HONDURAS ADMINISTRATION OF THE EMBARGO ON THE SHIPMENT OF ARMS AND MUNITIONS TO HONDURAS Date and number 1928 Subject Page May 29 (621) From the Minister in Honduras June 20 (52) June 21 (639) July 12 (62) July 30 (667) Information concerning a shipment of arms and ammunition from Canada via Kingston, Jamaica, to Amapala, for which the consular invoices were issued by the Honduran consul at Philadelphia. To the Minister in Honduras (tel.) Instructions to bring to the attention of the Honduran Government the active efforts of the U. S. Government to prevent clandestine shipments of arms and ammunition from the United States to Honduras; and to state that, if the embargo becomes merely a barrier to U. S. export trade and if through unrestricted export from other countries its effectiveness in protecting Honduras is lost, the Department would be forced to give serious consideration to lifting it. From the Minister in Honduras Report that the matter of clandestine shipments has been Inquiry as to what steps, if any, Honduras has taken to Information from the Foreign Minister that special instruc- 77 77 78 79 79 PROTEST AGAINST LIBELOUS ATTACK IN THE NEWSPAPER "EL CRONISTA" UPON ROY TASCO DAVIS, AMERICAN MINISTER IN COSTA RICA 1928 Apr. 29 (57) From the Minister in Honduras (tel.) Information of a libelous telegram against Roy Tasco Davis, 79 May 2 (58) From the Minister in Honduras (tel.) 80 Report that the Government has directed immediate judicial action against El Cronista on charge of calumny under penal code. May 8 (27) (Repeated to San José and Guatemala.) From the Minister in Costa Rica (tel.) Telegram, May 5, from the Costa Rican Foreign Minister to the Honduran Foreign Minister (text printed) denying the allegations against Mr. Davis in the published telegram and speaking of him in the highest terms. (Repeated to Honduras and Guatemala.) 80 HONDURAS PROTEST AGAINST LIBELOUS ATTACK IN THE NEWSPAPER "EL CRONISTA" UPON ROY TASCO DAVIS, AMERICAN MINISTER IN COSTA RICA- Continued Date and number Subject Page 1928 May 9 (17) May 17 (604) To the Minister in Costa Rica (tel.) 81 Instructions to inform the Foreign Minister that the Department deeply appreciates his courteous action. 81 From the Minister in Honduras Report that the courts have quashed the proceedings instituted by the Executive against the editor of El Cronista on the ground that no basis for action existed under Honduran law. IRISH FREE STATE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE IRISH FREE STATE FOR THE SO-CALLED REPUBLIC OF IRELAND BONDS SOLD IN THE UNITED STATES 1927 Oct. 26 1928 Jan. 27 Feb. 8 Feb. 11 Mar. 6 Memorandum by the Assistant Secretary of State Conversation with the Minister of the Irish Free State who insisted that the Free State was going to repay the balance of the money due on the 1921 bonds, although he felt that the decision of the New York court, which ruled that the Free State was not the successor of the Republic, legally let them out; his belief that the bondholders would get comparatively little money from the amount awarded by the New York court since the expenses of the bondholders' committees were enormous. Memorandum by the Assistant Secretary of State Conversation with President Cosgrave, who declared that he was determined that the money should be repaid to the subscribers and that he would be grateful for any suggestion as to how this could be accomplished with fairness to the bondholders without involving the Free State in any dealings with Messrs. Walsh and Ryan, counsel for the bondholders' committee. Memorandum by the Solicitor for the Department of State Conference with Assistant Secretary of State Castle and Messrs. Walsh and Ryan in which it was finally agreed that the latter would submit to the Department a concrete proposal showing the amount of money received by the Free State and how settlement could be made with complete assurance that the certificate holders would be fully reimbursed and the Free State safeguarded against any outlay beyond its legitimate obligation. To Senator Borah Statement of the present situation with respect to the so- To Messrs. Frank P. Walsh and John T. Ryan, New York 416955-43-2 IRISH FREE STATE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE IRISH FREE STATE FOR THE SO-CALLED REPUBLIC OF IRELAND BONDS SOLD IN THE UNITED STATES- Continued Date and number 1928 Subject Page Apr. 16 (26) July 28 (112) Aug. 16 Oct. 9 Oct. 11 To the Minister in the Irish Free State Instructions to address a formal communication to the Irish Free State in an endeavor to ascertain the official attitude of the Government toward U. S. subscribers to the so-called Irish Republic loans and what steps the Government expects to take looking to a settlement of these obligations. From the Minister in the Irish Free State Note from the Minister for External Affairs, July 26 (text To Messrs. Frank P. Walsh and John T. Ryan, New York Review To Messrs. Frank P. Walsh and John T. Ryan, New York From Messrs. Frank P. Walsh and John T. Ryan, New York ITALY TREATY OF ARBITRATION BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND ITALY, SIGNED APRIL 19, 1928 1928 Mar. 8 (23) To the Chargé in Italy (tel.) 102 Information that draft of proposed treaty of arbitration has been handed to Italian Ambassador and that copy will be sent to Embassy by next pouch. Apr. 19 Treaty Between the United States of America and Italy 102 ITALY REPRESENTATIONS BY THE ITALIAN GOVERNMENT REGARDING ACTIVITIES IN ITALY OF AMERICAN CUSTOMS AGENTS INVESTIGATING VALUATION OF EXPORTS TO THE UNITED STATES June 29 Request that the personnel of the Treasury Department assigned to investigate value of goods exported to the United States from Italy be reduced and that the activities of those remaining be curtailed. To the Italian Ambassador Information that Treasury Department personnel in Italy has been reduced. Explanation why further curtailment of activities of Treasury agents may not be feasible. Discussion of provisions of U. S. customs tariff law regarding procedure in appraising value of imported merchandise. 105 QUESTION OF CONTROL FROM ITALY OF FASCIST ORGANIZATIONS IN THE United STATES 1928 Feb. 9 (1557) From the Chargé in Italy Information that the new statutes proclaimed by Mussolini as to the conduct of Fascist organizations abroad give Italian diplomatic agents and consuls immediate control over the Fascists living in foreign countries. Opinion that this procedure will strengthen the control of the central home organization over the Fascists abroad. Feb. 10 Memorandum by the Assistant Secretary of State Feb. 24 Mar. 3 1929 Dec. 5 Dec. 27 Conversation with the Italian Ambassador concerning the orders issued by Mussolini to Fascist organizations abroad and the present Italian emigration policy. Memorandum by the Assistant Secretary of State Conversation in which Italian Ambassador discussed the authority of the Italian Government over Fascist organizations in the United States and its attitude toward the naturalization as American citizens of Italians residing in this country. To Representative Hamilton Fish, Jr. Transmittal of Parini's statement to the United Press in Rome that the Fascist League of North America is not dependent on the Secretary General in Rome and that the instructions in the new statutes are intended for Italian subjects living abroad, and do not apply to naturalized American citizens of Italian origin. Memorandum by the Secretary of State Conversation in which Italian Ambassador stated that Mussolini had authorized him to disband the Fascist League, but that he would postpone announcement until excitement had subsided. Statement Issued to the Press by the Secretary of State Information that State Department investigation of incidents referred to in article in Harper's Magazine has not revealed any subversive activities by Italian residents. Expression of appreciation that the Fascist League has dissolved itself. 107 109 110 111 111 112 ITALY REPRESENTATIONS BY THE ITALIAN GOVERNMENT REGARDING ALLEGED IN- Date and number 1927 Aug. 9 Sept. 9 Oct. 11 1928 Feb. 9 Apr. 6 Apr. 30 June 8 From the Italian Ambassador Subject Observations that the new fish and game law of Florida contains a provision that nonresident and alien retail dealers shall pay a license fee of $50 per annum while other dealers pay only $5 and that this provision is being applied to Italians even when they have been residents for many years. Representations against the law as being in conflict with treaty of 1871. From the Italian Ambassador Inquiry whether prompt reply could be solicited from the Governor of Florida concerning the Embassy's representations in regard to the new fish and game law of that State. Information that the Embassy has received new complaints from Italian residents of Florida whose interests are harmed by the operation of the law. To the Italian Chargé Communication from the Governor of Florida (excerpt printed) to the effect that Italian subjects resident in Florida receive equal treatment with resident American citizens in the matter of licenses to dealers in fish and that nonresident Italians and nonresident citizens of the United States likewise receive equal treatment. From the Italian Ambassador Further representations occasioned by the receipt of a letter from the Shell Fish Commissioner of the State of Florida to the Italian consular agent at Tampa (excerpt printed) stating that he disagrees with Italian interpretation of treaty of 1871 and will continue to collect license tax from all aliens regardless of nationality. Observation that this letter is in open conflict with position expressed in Department's note of October 11, 1927. To the Italian Ambassador Information that the position taken by the Shell Fish Commissioner of Florida has been sustained by the Attorney General of Florida. Expression of regret at this apparent reversal of position set forth in Department's note of October 11, 1927. Suggestion that any Italian subjects who feel aggrieved by the tax may apply to courts of the United States in which is vested the authority to interpret treaties. From the Italian Ambassador Statement that Italian Government is entitled to have treaties respected by American authorities apart from actions that Italian subjects may maintain in U. S. courts. To the Italian Ambassador Statement that, since Florida authorities have not recognized the validity of Italian contentions, the Department is not in a position to take any further action until a final adjudication has been obtained in the appropriate courts of the United States. Belief that Italian rights under existing treaty provisions would suffer no prejudice through a determination thereof by appropriate U. S. Federal judicial authorities. |