subsequent modifications of the terms thereof American citizens shall not be placed in a less favorable position than the nationals of the other powers concerned. I beg to state that the Imperial Government, having no objection to the proposed understanding, are desirous to bring to a conclusion, with the present note in reply to your excellency's note under acknowledgment, the exchange of notes required for the approval of the protocol in question. I avail [etc.] [Inclosure 3.] BARON N. MAKINO. No. 87.1 Ambassador Guthrie to the Minister for Foreign Affairs. AMERICAN EMBASSY, YOUR EXCELLENCY: Referring to your excellency's note No. 25 of the 20th instant, I have the honor to state that I concur in the proposal to bring to a conclusion with that note in reply to my note of October 2 last, while agreeing to the understanding as proposed therein, the exchange of notes required for the approval of the protocol relating to the adjustment of the Foreign Settlements in Chosen which was signed at Seoul on April 2, 1913, I avail [etc.] GEO. W. GUTHRIE. File No. 895.102/21. No. 57.] Ambassador Guthrie to the Secretary of State. AMERICAN EMBASSY, SIR: Supplementing my despatch No. 56 of the 26th instant, relative to the approval of the protocol stipulating the conditions of transfer of the Foreign Settlements in Chosen, I have now the honor to inclose a copy of a note received today from the Minister for Foreign Affairs, in which he informs me that the Government General of Chosen intends to put in force its ordinance for carrying into effect the abolition of the said settlements on April 1 next. I have been unofficially informed by the British Ambassador that as his objections have not been met he had yesterday afternoon refused to consent to the exchange of notes confirming the protocol on behalf of his Government. What effect this will have on the proposed action by the Minister for Foreign Affairs I am not informed. However, in order that the Consul General at Seoul may be prepared to act, I am advising him of the proposed action of the Government General. I have [etc.] [Inclosure Translation.] GEO. W. GUTHRIE. The Minister for Foreign Affairs to Ambassador Guthrie. DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS, MONSIEUR L'AMBASSADEUR: Referring to my note of the 20th instant, relative to the conclusion of the formalities required for the approval of the protocol respecting the abolition of the Foreign Settlements in Chosen, I have the honor to inform your excellency that the Government General of Chosen intends to put in force its ordinance for carrying into effect the abolition of the said settlements (Serial No. 7 of the 30th of October, 1913) on the 1st April next. 178. Department does not appear to be in cable communication with Monrovia. Forward following message to American Minister there: "Telegraph briefly effect European war is having on conditions in Liberia." LANSING. File No. 882,51/623. Minister Buckner to the Secretary of State. [Telegram.] AMERICAN LEGATION, Monrovia, September 24, 1914. Referring to Department's instruction through London. Shipping almost paralyzed. Assigned revenues estimated not more than $3,000 monthly. Interest paid for September. Receivership has $30,000 in bank. No payment to Liberian Government for August. Only partial payments possible to customs and frontier force for August and succeeding months. Frontier force reduced forty per cent. Financial assistance from some source imperative. Receivership has asked fiscal agents for loan. BUCKNER. File No. 882.51/623. The Acting Secretary of State to Messrs. Kuhn, Loeb and Company. DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, September 25, 1914. SIR: I transmit herewith paraphrase of a telegram which the Department has received from the American Minister Resident at Monrovia with reference to financial conditions in Liberia. As will be seen from Minister Buckner's telegram, conditions are very serious in Liberia on account of the situation caused by the present wars in Europe and the Government and people of the Republic find themselves in a distressing position through no fault of their own. I shall be glad to receive any suggestions which you may care to offer with a view to the taking of some steps looking to the relief of Liberia. I am [etc.] ROBERT LANSING, File No. 882.51/625. Messrs. Kuhn, Loeb and Co. to the Acting Secretary of State. NEW YORK, September 29, 1914. SIR: We beg to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 25th inst., enclosing paraphrase of a telegram which the State Department has received from the American Minister Resident in Monrovia, with reference to financial conditions in Liberia. We have given the most careful consideration to your letter, but while we greatly regret to learn of the hardships which the war has caused in Liberia, we are unable to offer any suggestion for the relief of this situation, as under existing conditions, it is not possible to arrange a loan to Liberia. We remain [etc.] KUHN, LOEB AND COMPANY. File No. 882.51/623. The Secretary of State to Minister Buckner, [Telegram.] DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, September 30, 1914. Your September 24. Cable more definite information regarding condition of American missionaries in Liberia and also needs of Liberians. 1 File No. 882.51/626. BRYAN. Minister Buckner to the Secretary of State. [Telegrams.] AMERICAN LEGATION, Monrovia, October 3, 1914. Department's September 30. American missionary drafts discounted 8 per cent. Some boarding schools closed for lack of food but no famine anywhere. Fifty-four immigrants are destitute and appeal to me for aid. File No. 882.51/633. BUCKNER. AMERICAN LEGATION, Monrovia, November 28, 1914. Clark says revenues November insufficient for payment cost of collection and interest due November 30. New York bankers refuse loan. Can anything be done to prevent default? BUCKNER. It hopes and believes that isolation will accomplish this end and shall await the results without irritation or impatience. If General Huerta does not retire by force of circumstances it will become the duty of the United States to use less peaceful means to put him out. It will give other Governments notice in advance of each affirmative or aggressive step it has in contemplation should it unhappily become necessary to move actively against the usurper; but no such step seems immediately necessary. Its fixed resolve is that no such interruptions of civil order shall be tolerated in so far as it is concerned. Each conspicuous instance in which usurpations of this kind are prevented will render their recurrence less and in the end a state of affairs will be secured in Mexico and elsewhere upon this continent which will assure the peace of America and the untrammeled development of its economic and social relations with the rest o fthe world. Beyond this fixed purpose the Government of the United States will not go. It will not permit itself to seek any special or exclusive advantages in Mexico or elsewhere for its own citizens but will seek, here as elsewhere, to show itself the consistent champion of the open door. In the meantime it is making every effort that the circumstances permit to safeguard foreign lives and property in Mexico and is making the lives and fortunes of the subjects of other Governments as much its concern as the lives and fortunes of its own citizens. You will communicate to the foreign office. BRYAN. File No. 812.00/10712. Ambassador W. H. Page to the Secretary of State. [Telegram.] AMERICAN EMBASSY, London, January 28, 1914. 141. In a long talk with Sir Edward Grey to-day following a long conversation I held with the King on Saturday night, the idea was informally suggested by Grey that the British Government and other European Governments might be willing to request Huerta to resign on two conditions: first, if such a request would be agreeable to the President; and second, if the President will present a definite plan whereby after Huerta's resignation the pacification of Mexico may be expected. It is thought here that Huerta would feel that he could save his face by yielding to the request of several strong [powers] in a way he would not feel if he resigned at the pressure of the United States only. Mexican refugees and residents here inform me that such a plan would also cause the ruling class in Mexico to feel that their nationality would suffer less humiliation. Huerta would probably demand conditions. Please telegraph me at the earliest hour possible the feeling of the President with regard to this proposal. If he be favorably disposed please inform me also whether he has a plan to present of a government to follow Huerta which the British, the German and the Spanish Governments might support and what conditions imposed by Huerta would be acceptable to the President. If the President be hospitable to this general idea and will propose a tentative plan for discussion I believe that the moral support of Europe can be got. Sir Edward Grey informally expressed his approval. The King is much interested. PAGE. |