3. That the High Commissioner at Port au Prince be instructed by the Department to urge the Haitian Government to give to these claims earnest consideration, and to notify that Government that if the Haitian Government found payments justified, the United States Government would not object.

JOHN H. RUSSELL

438.00/421

Memorandum by the Chief of the Division of Latin American Affairs (Morgan)

[WASHINGTON,] October 5, 1928. Conversation [of] Sir John Broderick and Mr. Terence A. Shone of the British Embassy with General Russell and Mr. Morgan (Mr. Baker was unable to attend).

Sir John Broderick said that, following our previous conference on April 27 last, the matter had been taken up with the British Chargé d'Affaires at Port au Prince who had now obtained what he considered satisfactory assurances from his colleagues in Port au Prince showing that if these British claims were reopened this would not lead to the reopening of claims by other governments. Accordingly he felt that that difficulty had been removed. He understood that Dr. Millspaugh appeared to be in sympathy with the plan to have these claims reconsidered but had not felt that it was incumbent upon him to make any statement. He understood that Dr. Millspaugh had communicated his views to the Department.

Mr. Morgan replied that Dr. Millspaugh had done so and the Legation had reported the statements of the British Chargé d'Affaires to the effect that the British Government had received assurances from the French and other governments concerned on this subject that these latter governments would not reopen any claims settled by the Claims Commission.

Mr. Morgan then read the attached memorandum of recommendations of General Russell, which he stated met with the approval of the Department. Mr. Morgan said that the Department would expect to receive for the record some official communication from the British Embassy confirming the statements of the British Chargé d'Affaires at Port au Prince and showing that his belief that other claims would not be reopened by other countries was well founded. The Department, upon the receipt of such a communication and being satisfied that such was the case, would instruct the High Commissioner at Port au Prince to urge the Haitian Government to give these claims earnest consideration and to notify that Government

8 See General Russell's memorandum to Mr. Baker, supra.

that if it found payments justified the United States Government would not raise any objection.

Mr. Broderick expressed himself as deeply appreciative of the Department's attitude and said that his Government would be much gratified. He said that a communication on the subject would be forthcoming from the British Embassy shortly.

MORGAN

438.00/422

The Secretary of State to the High Commissioner in Haiti (Russell)

No. 389

WASHINGTON, October 17, 1928. SIR: With reference to despatch No. 1263 (High Commissioner's Series) of August 7, 1928, and previous correspondence regarding the desire of the British Government to obtain the reconsideration of three British claims against the Government of Haiti, the Department transmits herewith for your information a memorandum of a conversation between Sir John Broderick of the British Embassy and certain officials of the Department on October 5, and also a copy of a letter from Sir John Broderick to the Chief of the Division of Latin American Affairs relative to these claims,10 in which it is stated that the British Government is at present aware of no similar claims which might still be asserted against Haiti by other countries.

The Department is satisfied that there is reasonable ground for assurance that if the three claims which the British Government desires to have reopened should be reconsidered by the Haitian Government, this will not lead to the presentation for reconsideration of other claims by other governments.

When the British representative in Port au Prince submits these claims again to the Haitian Government, you may state to President Borno that in your opinion, which is shared by the Department of State, these claims should be given earnest consideration. You may also inform the Government of Haiti that if it should find payment justified, the United States Government will raise no objection. I am [etc.]

HEJAZ AND NEJD

OPPOSITION OF THE AUTHORITIES OF HEJAZ AND NEJD TO THE ENTRY OF AMERICAN MISSIONARIES

390f.1163 Christian and Missionary Alliance/1

The Chargé in Egypt (Winship) to the Secretary of State No. 153

CAIRO, January 5, 1928.
[Received February 3.]

SIR: I have the honor to enclose herewith an original letter in Arabic, with translation, addressed to this Legation by the Department for Foreign Affairs of the Government of the Hedjaz and Nejd, calling attention to the danger to travelers entering that country without permits.

This letter has been acknowledged, and I am also bringing the facts contained therein to the attention of the Consular officers in Egypt, Palestine, and Syria.

I have [etc.]

[Enclosure-Translation 1]

NORTH WINSHIP

The Director of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Hejaz and Nejd to the American Minister in Egypt

No. Kh./24/1 DECEMBER 18, 1927. EXCELLENCY: In view of the fact that you are the nearest American authority to the Hedjaz, I have the honor to submit the following to Your Excellency:

1. During the month of May, last, it came to the attention of my Government that an American citizen by the name of Mr. G. W. Bradin, bearing American passport No. 162896, crossed the HedjazNajd frontiers, from the direction of Transjordan, in a motor-car and proceeded to the interior of the Hedjaz and Najd whence he arrived at Tima. His aim in this dangerous venture being the preaching of the Bible and the call to Christianity among the tribes of the Hedjaz and Najd. The Hedjaz local authorities arrested the person in question and sent him back, under guard to Maan. The Government of His Majesty, my King, then wrote to the British High Commissioner in Palestine and requested him to take the necessary steps

'Revised translation supplied by the Government of Saudi Arabia, February 22, 1942 (026 Foreign Relations/1598).

la Rev. George W. Breaden.

in order to prevent foreigners, not possessing special permits from His Majesty's Government, from crossing the frontiers, this being for their safety and for the protection of their lives which would be in great danger should they travel among the tribes without having official permits. This case was not reported by His Majesty's Government to you nor to any other American authority as it was believed that the measures which the Palestine Government seemed disposed to take would suffice to keep adventurous persons informed of the great danger which might befall them and would prevent them from crossing the frontiers.

2. Last November, it also came to the knowledge of the Hedjaz Government that two foreigners had crossed the frontier from the direction of El-Akaba and that they had arrived by camel at El-Khrieba— one of the local administrative centers. Upon investigation it was ascertained that the two persons were Mr. G. W. Bradin, bearer of American passport No. 162896, and Mr. W. H. F. Samoulli,2 bearer of American passport No. 436594. It is clear that one of them, Mr. Bradin, is the person connected with the case of last May. These two persons almost met their death as victims of their unwise and rash attempt at the hands of the tribes whose members dislike to find any foreigner doing missionary work among them. However, measures taken by the local Government saved their lives. They were sent under guard to Jedda where they were made clearly to understand the grave danger they would have to face should they attempt a repetition of their previous action and thereupon they were deported from the country. A notation was made on their passports to the effect that they are not to return to the land of Hedjaz and Najd.

3. No doubt you are aware of the holiness of the Hedjaz and the position it holds in the sight of the Mohammedan world. You are also aware that religious precepts and Islamic injunction forbid the existence of two religions in the Arabian desert. No Government can but observe these two considerations and other important considerations connected with the safety of the country. In view of the above His Majesty's Government cannot in any way allow the sacred land of Hedjaz to be a field for the spreading of Christian teaching among the Tribes. Moreover, the Government cannot assume any responsibility in respect of the fate which might befall venturesome missionaries who enter the country without the knowledge and permission of the Hedjaz Government. The British High Commissioner in Palestine has been informed to this effect and has been requested to take the necessary steps to that end.

4. Without doubt Your Excellency will be interested in this matter and give it the proper consideration because of the great danger

'Rev. William F. Smalley.

which your citizens would have to face by reason of such unwise actions. I write this letter to Your Excellency to beg you to inform your citizens who might be residing near the Hedjaz-Najd frontiers of the decision of His Majesty's Government, which forbids missionaries from working in the sacred lands of the Hedjaz, and of the great dangers which they may face if they should attempt to cross the frontiers without the necessary official Government permit. I hope Your Excellency will give the matter your consideration. Please accept [etc.]

ABDULLAH EL DAMLOOJY
Director of Foreign Affairs

390f.1163 Christian and Missionary Alliance/6

The Consul at Jerusalem (Heizer) to the Secretary of State

No. 1642

JERUSALEM, February 13, 1928.

[Received March 7.]

SIR: I have the honor to report to the Department that Rev. George W. Breaden and Rev. William F. Smalley who are connected with The Palestine and Arabian Border Mission of the Christian and Missionary Alliance of 260 West 44th Street New York City undertook a trip into Hedjaz in November 1927 via Ma'an and Akaba for the purpose of investigating the feasibility of opening up missionary and educational work in that country. They were arrested and sent out of the country from Jeddah with a notation on their American passports to the effect that they were not permitted to enter the Hedjaz or Nejd.

Mr. Smalley is registered at this Consulate and his registration bears the Department's serial No. 36465. Mr. Breaden's serial number is 60171.

Mr. Breaden has been located at Beersheba, Palestine for some time and quite recently has made his headquarters at Ma'an, Transjordan. He has been quite active in exploring both the Hedjaz and Nejd by automobile and by camel. He has made several trips by automobile across the sands to El Djauf at the extreme eastern end of the fertile Wadi Sirhan. (Latitude 30 longitude 392) The Palestine Arabian Border Mission to which he belongs has mission stations in Madaba, Kerak and Ma'an Transjordan; also at Hebron, Beit Jala and Ain-Karem, Palestine, with headquarters at Jerusalem where they have a Mission House, and Chapel called the American Church.

It appears that while they were detained in Jeddah they were given to understand that they would be tried by the Director of Foreign Affairs of Sultan Ibn Saud's Cabinet whom they declare came from Mecca to Jeddah for this purpose. They state that he remained in