Mexico that the United States did not intend to request further permission for the reason that in the future naval maneuvers and target practice would be held on the high seas. In view of the foregoing reasons and especially of the distrust which this subject has raised whenever it is discussed, and considering, moreover, that the good harmony and understanding which happily exist between our two countries would be secured by avoiding a question regarding which, however unjustifiably, there exist such serious prejudices, Mexico would desire that the American Government should for the present maintain the same point of view set forth in 1910 by the Secretary of State, Mr. P. C. Knox, and should continue in its attitude of not requesting new permits for Magdalena Bay, since such a decision would avoid all comment. The Government of Mexico desires to state to the Government of the United States, however, that if eventually its Navy Department should solicit, as an exception, a permit relative to the stationing of its fleet in Magdalena Bay for maneuvers and target practice, Mexico would be disposed, upon previous diplomatic negotiation in each case, to indicate the conditions under which it would grant such a permit in accordance with Mexican laws. MEXICO, January 24, 1925. 811.34512/71 The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Mexico (Sheffield) No. 187 WASHINGTON, February 11, 1925. SIR: I am in receipt of your Embassy's confidental despatch No. 275 of January 26, 1925, transmitting copies of correspondence exchanged recently between the Embassy and the Mexican Foreign Office, in relation to the desire of the Navy Department for renewal of the privilege heretofore accorded to the American fleet to operate from the waters of Magdalena Bay as an anchorage during periods for which diplomatic arrangements will be made beforehand in each case. It is noted that the Mexican Government is disposed to grant the desired privileges and to indicate the conditions to be observed if eventually the Navy Department should wish to avail itself of the privileges in reference. In reply you are informed that the information contained in the Mexican Note has been brought to the attention of the Secretary of the Navy. It is desired that you now inform the Mexican Foreign Office in a formal Note that the appropriate branch of this Government has informed the Department of State that the fuel depot in Pichilingue Bay will be permanently closed and relinquished in accordance with the wishes of the Mexican Government; and you will address a separate Note to the Foreign Office conveying your Government's appreciation of the Mexican Government's assurance that it will indicate the conditions to be observed if eventually the Navy Department should desire to avail itself of the privileges heretofore enjoyed on occasion. I am [etc.] CHARLES E. HUGHES MOROCCO REFUSAL BY THE UNITED STATES TO ACQUIESCE IN THE APPLICATION OF THE STATUTE OF TANGIER1 881.00/1017a The Secretary of State to the Chargé in Morocco (Rand) No. 325 WASHINGTON, February 4, 1925. SIR: Reference is made to the Department's instruction No. 322, of January 7, 1925,2 which transmitted to you copy of a Note, dated December 20, 1924, sent by the Department to the French Ambassador 3 in reply to his Note of October 31, 1924, concerning the question of the adhesion of the United States to the Tangier Convention." As yet no answer has been made by the French, British or Spanish Governments to the Department's Notes of December 20, 1924. Pending the receipt of satisfactory replies from these Governments and subsequent action thereon by this Government, the rights of the United States in the Tangier Zone are not to be regarded as modified by the application by the interested powers of the Statute of Tangier, which is understood to have gone into effect on December 1, 1924. It is the understanding of the Department that the application of the Statute of Tangier would abolish certain commissions of which you are ex officio a member and would tend to modify certain functions which you are performing under the terms of the Act of Algeciras and previous treaties. It is not the purpose of the United States to pursue a policy of obstruction in the face of the effort made by the signatory powers of the Tangier Convention to provide the Tangier Zone with a satisfactory form of government, an effort which will of necessity alter in some degree the previously existing administrative machinery. A distinction therefore must be made between those acts of the authorities of Tangier which adversely affect substantial American 1For previous correspondence on this question, see Foreign Relations, 1924, vol. II, pp. 456 ff. Not printed. 3 See Foreign Relations, 1924, vol. I, p. 470, footnote 16. 4 Ibid., p. 466. French text and English translation printed in Great Britain, Cmd. 2096, Morocco No. 1 (1924): Convention Regarding the Organisation of the Statute of the Tangier Zone, signed at Paris, December 18, 1923. 6 Foreign Relations, 1906, pt. 2, p. 1495. rights and interests and those which merely involve unimportant departures from or non-observance of practices established under the Act of Algeciras and other international agreements, and which do not materially affect this Government's interests. Incidents of the latter sort need not be made the subject of formal complaint, but should be reported to the Department from time to time for its information. However, in cases which may be regarded as innovations upon this Government's established rights, you should take such immediate action as the exigency of the situation may seem to demand and report the facts to the Department for instructions. I am [etc.] CHARLES E. HUGHES 881.00/1053 The French Ambassador (Daeschner) to the Secretary of State [Translation 7] WASHINGTON, May 31, 1925. MR. SECRETARY OF STATE: In compliance with instructions from my Government, I have the honor to inform Your Excellency that the Statute of Tangier established through the Paris agreement of December 18, 1923, will go into effect on June 1. This step has been taken in accord with the Governments of Spain and Great Britain, and my Government hopes that the Government of the United States will welcome the establishment of a regime, to the arrangements of which it has raised no fundamental objection. Please accept [etc.] E. DAESCHNER 881.00/1052 The Spanish Ambassador (Riaño) to the Secretary of State 59-16 [Translation'] WASHINGTON, May 31, 1925. MR. SECRETARY: In compliance with instructions from His Majesty's Government, I have the honor to inform Your Excellency that pursuant to an agreement between the Governments of Spain, Great Britain, and France, there shall be enforced on and after the 1st of June next, the Paris agreement of December 18, 1923, referring to the Statute of Tangier, the new regime being set up in its entirety and the Mixed Tribunal beginning to sit. The Municipal Assembly and Control Committee will also enter upon their duties and the Sanitary Boards and Hygiene Commission will go out of office. 'File translation revised. His Majesty's Government indulges the hope that the Government of the United States, whose adhesion to the new regime has met with no fundamental difficulty, will be pleased to recognize it at the earliest possible date, taking into account the fact that the local regime is to be established under conditions of regularity, permitting a normal development of economic life, which action will be sincerely and thankfully acknowledged by the governments that have signed the Paris agreement. I avail myself [etc.] 881.00/1047: Telegram JUAN RIAÑO The Chargé in Morocco (Murphy) to the Secretary of State TANGIER, May 31, 1925-10 a. m. 7. Shereefian Government has notified Italian Minister, as president of Sanitary Council, that Dahir of 1879 creating Council will be rescinded and Council abolished simultaneously with formal introduction of Tangier statute on June 1st, and Italian Minister is requested to surrender Sanitary Council funds to new administration. Italian Minister conscious of serious objections of his Government and has called meeting of Sanitary Council for June 3d. In view of Department's instructions No. 325, February 4th, request instructions. Principles of economic equality apparently unaffected and surrender of one source of revenue specifically contemplated in article 61 of Act of Algeciras. Sultan's right to rescind admitted. Further request instructions in regard to making applicable to American citizens and protégés consumption are [and] other taxes already announced. Suggest such taxes and other innovations should in each case be subject of formal request on part of Tangier Government for American Government's sanction and that such sanction if accorded be contingent upon consent of all governments including Italian. MURPHY 881.00/1048 The British Ambassador (Howard) to the Secretary of State No. 574 WASHINGTON, June 1, 1925. SIR: I have the honour to inform you with reference to previous correspondence respecting the Tangier Convention of December 18th, 1923, that His Majesty's Government have agreed with the French and Spanish Governments that, in order to put an end to the state of uncertainty existing in the international zone of Tangier, the new Statute of Tangier should go into force today, June 1st. |