to the Provisional Government: France has nominated Robert J. D. de Billy, counselor of the Embassy at Rome, in the same capacity; and the Russian Government has signified its intention of also appointing a diplomatic representative. The Provisional Government, with an army of less than 3,000 bayonets in the field, declared war on Germany and Bulgaria, and thereby admitted itself into the ranks of the belligerents. The Entente military forces in Greece will not permit the Royal Government to exercise its sovereign right of maintaining law and order throughout the Kingdom. The Allies contend that they have full and just cause for their attitude towards the King. In view of this unique and abnormal situation and in view of the circumstances under which the Provisional Government was created, its right to recognition by a neutral government is considerably impaired. As a matter of form, this Consulate has recognized the Provisional Government, and feels that such semiofficial recognition is ample under existing conditions. I have [etc.] [Enclosure-Translation] JOHN E. KEHL The Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Greek Provisional Government (Politis) to the American Consul at Saloniki (Kehl) SALONIKI, December 17/30, 1916. Mr. CONSUL: Referring to our conversation of this morning, I have the honor to confirm, that during the past ten days the Governments of England, France, and Russia have successively conceded to the Provisional Government the right of representation at their capitals, and that in consequence the Provisional Government has proceeded with the nomination of agents to England, France, Russia, and Egypt. I beg you to have the kindness to make known to the Government of the United States, and express to it, in my name, a desire to know its attitude towards the Provisional Government from an international point of view. As I have already had the honor to inform Mr. Droppers under date of November 13/26, No. 477, I presume that the Government of the United States, conforming with the practice regularly followed by it on analogous occasions, has already tacitly recognized the Provisional Government as a government de facto. I hope that, following the action which you are kindly requested to take, you will inform me as to this interpretation and advise me of the decision which your Government makes, especially in view of an eventual representation of the Provisional Government in the United States. Please accept [etc.] N. POLITIS File No. 763.72/3336 The Minister in Greece (Droppers) to the Secretary of State [Telegram] ATHENS, February 15, 1917, 11 a. m. [Received February 16, 2.50 a. m.] 254. Entente Ministers satisfied that Greek Government not in good faith in regard to execution of terms of ultimatum, prospects of raising blockade worse than last week. DROPPERS File No. 763.72119/468 The Secretary of State to the Mexican Consul General at San Francisco in Charge of Mexican Interests (De Negri) WASHINGTON, February 17, 1917. SIR: I am in receipt of your letter of the 12th instant, in which you transcribe, for my information, a note which General Venustiano Carranza has addressed to the neutral nations, tendering the cooperation of the de facto Government of Mexico in endeavoring to bring the war in Europe to an end. In reply, I beg to say that General Carranza's note will receive the attentive consideration of the Government of the United States. I may add that, in accordance with the request contained in your letter of February 13,' copies of General Carranza's note were to-day forwarded, by telegraph, to the American diplomatic representatives in Holland, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, and Switzerland, for delivery to the Foreign Offices of those countries, with the understanding that the attitude of the Government of the United States is not to be prejudiced by the lending of this Government's good offices in accommodating the de facto Government in this matter. I am [etc.] ROBERT LANSING File No. 763.72/3355a The Secretary of State to the Minister in Sweden (Morris) [Telegram] WASHINGTON, February 19, 1917, 4 p. m. 130. Department understands that Swedish Government has invited the neutrals to participate in a conference in Stockholm through their diplomatic representatives at that capital to discuss 1 Not printed. matters of interest to neutrals arising after the war. Please report to the Department upon this matter and keep Department advised of future developments. LANSING File No. 868.50/2 The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Great Britain (Page) [Telegram] WASHINGTON, February 20, 1917, 7 p. m. 4467. The Greek Chargé d'Affaires in Washington has left at the Department translations of telegrams from his Government to the effect that the poor classes in Greece have begun to live on herbs, that epidemics of enteritis and dysenteria are rapidly spreading in the country, and that deaths have occurred, all as a result of starvation. The Greek Government states that "notwithstanding the complete execution of the Allies' ultimatum no relaxation has been brought in the blocus." The food that the Greek Government is anxious to import into Greece comes wholly from the United States. Please take the matter up orally and unofficially with the Foreign Office, and endeavor to ascertain the intention of the Allied Governments in respect to the importation in future of foodstuffs into Greece. LANSING File No. 763.72119/8266 The Ambassador in Great Britain (Page) to the Secretary of State [Telegram] LONDON, February 20, 1917, 9 a. m. 5714. Since my 5665, February 11,1 I have seen the Prime Minister three times. He has discussed the subject with some of his associates as he promised me that he would and modified his first views and recommendations. He has just told me and authorized me to telegraph you that if you formally submit a peace commission proposal on behalf of Austria-Hungary his Government will be glad to receive it formally and to consider it on its merits, on condition that every precaution be taken to insure the utmost secrecy, as if the Germans realize it they will stop. I reminded him of what he had said about his willingness not to disrupt the Austro-Hungarian Empire by the 'Anie, p. 41. loss of its older units Hungary and Bohemia. He repeated what I reported in my above-mentioned telegram on that subject. PAGE File No. 763.72119/8267 The Ambassador in Great Britain (Page) to the Secretary of State [Telegram] LONDON, February 21, 1917, 10 a. m. 5725. My 5714, February 20. There are two facts that might have been and perhaps ought to have been emphasized more strongly in that telegram: One is the Prime Minister's fear of publicity. I assured him that extraordinary precautions would be taken. The other fact is the earnestness with which any proposal officially received will be considered. The Prime Minister's first mood has been completely changed; it was shared and urged as nearly as I can find out chiefly by Curzon, but the Navy in particular and presumably the Army are anxious to cause the possible detachment of Austria-Hungary and their pressure I believe changed the Prime Minister's first view. If this can be accomplished, they will expect a very much earlier end of the war. Your efforts will be fully and generously appreciated. File No. 763.72/3364 PAGE The Minister in Sweden (Morris) to the Secretary of State [Telegram] STOCKHOLM, February 21, 1917, 1 p. m. [Received 8 p. m.] 192. Your 130. Foreign Office informs me Sweden through Legation at Washington invited the United States 17th October to join Scandinavian countries, Spain, Switzerland, and Holland in conference. Secretary of State after conferring with the President declined with thanks the 1st of last December. Preliminary meeting of Ministers accredited to Sweden by countries mentioned expected to take place in near future at Stockholm to discuss treatment of submarines and aeroplanes, destruction of neutral prizes, blacklist, and economic relations after the war. Conference will avoid inediation and taking sides with any belligerent. The United States is not expected to participate. MORRIS File No. 868.50/3 The Ambassador in Great Britain (Page) to the Secretary of State [Telegram] LONDON, February 22, 1917, 2 p. m. [Received 4.55 p. m.] 5736. Your 4467, February 20, 7 p. m., was immediately made known personally to Mr. Balfour. He remarked that one difficulty in the way of supplies reaching Greece was the enemy submarines in the Mediterranean. He said that other aspects of the subject were receiving Government attention. PAGE The Offer to Austria-Hungary, February 22, of Limited Assurances against Dismemberment in the Event of a Request for Early Peace-Refusal of the Austro-Hungarian Government to Consider a Separate Peace-Reply of the United States to the Proposals of the de facto Mexican Government-Reports of the Constitutional Struggle in Germany-Request of the Greek Provisional Government at Saloniki for Recognition File No. 763.72119/10094a The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Austria-Hungary (Penfield) [Telegram] WASHINGTON, February 22, 1917, 5 p. m. 1566. When there is opportunity for you to see the Minister of Foreign Affairs alone you may say to him, provided the occasion seems suitable, that you have received information from the highest authority which convinces you that in arranging terms of peace the Allied Governments have no desire or purpose to disrupt the Austro-Hungarian Empire by the separation of Hungary and Bohemia from Austria unless a continuance of the war causes a change of conditions; that undoubtedly a definite assurance of this might be obtained through this Government if the Austrian Government, indicating a desire for an early peace, wished that you should act secretly to that end; and that you would be pleased to convey to this Government any comments, suggestions or proposals in regard to this subject which the Austrian Government may be pleased to make, it being understood that whatever exchanges may take place will be treated in the strictest confidence. You should make it perfectly clear to the Minister of Foreign Affairs before making the foregoing statement that you are about to give him information of the most confidential character and that you rely upon him to prevent it from becoming known for if it |