The Secretary of State to the Russian Ambassador (Bakhméteff) [Telegram] DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, August 28, 1914. Your telegram of yesterday was not received until after the office was closed last evening. The Department of Labor has to-day sent the necessary instructions to the immigration authorities on the Canadian border in accordance with your request. W. J. BRYAN File No. 150.07/17 The Secretary of State to the French Ambassador (Jusserand) No. 1376] DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, September 4, 1914. EXCELLENCY: Having reference to Mr. Clausse's note of August 14 asking that suitable instructions be issued to the proper immigration officials at Montreal with a view to the removal of any restrictions there in force preventing French reservists in Canada from coming to this country for the purpose of returning to their mother country, I have the honor to inform your excellency that the request of Mr. Clausse was promptly complied with. Accept [etc.] W. J. BRYAN File No. 150.07/61b The Acting Secretary of State to the Belgian Minister (Havenith) DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, September 18, 1914. MY DEAR MR. MINISTER: In compliance with your oral request of this morning, the Department has telegraphed to the Department of Commerce, suggesting that it make all proper arrangements for the passage of ten Belgian reservists through the United States from Montreal to New York, where they will take a steamer. The same information has been telegraphed to the American Consul General at Montreal. I am [etc.] ROBERT LANSING File No. 150.07/37 The British Ambassador (Spring Rice) to the Secretary of State No. 334] BRITISH EMBASSY, Washington, September 25, 1914. SIR: With reference to Article 6 of the Hague convention respecting the rights and duties of neutral powers ratified by the President February 23, 1909, I have the honour to inform you that certain British Army reservists in Canada, who cannot proceed to England direct owing to the irregularity of the present Canadian service, are anxious to pass through United States territory in order to fulfil their military duties and that the United States immigration agents at Montreal have refused permission to a number of such persons. I have the honour to request that, should there be no objection, the proper authorities may be instructed to allow such persons to cross the United States frontier in order to embark for Great Britain at a United States port. I understand that no objection has been raised to reservists of other nationalities crossing United States territory for a similar purpose. I have [etc.] CECIL SPRING RICE File No. 150.07/47b The Acting Secretary of State to the Diplomatic Representatives of Belligerent States [Circular note] DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, October 3, 1914. EXCELLENCY: A number of requests in specific cases have been made of the Department for permission for nationals of belligerent countries to come to the United States from Canada for the purpose of embarking to the countries of which they are citizens or subjects. The requests were granted, as neither the neutrality laws of the United States nor the proclamations of the President prohibit passage through the United States of reservists who are returning to their respective countries for the purpose of engaging in military service, provided their transit does not amount to the beginning or setting on foot, or providing or preparing the means for, any military expedition or enterprise to be carried on from the territory or jurisdiction of the United States. The Department of State and the Department of Labor, after consideration of the subject, have reached the conclusion that embarrassment and criticism would be obviated by the issuance of general instructions to the United States immigration officials to permit the transit of reservists of belligerent nationalities who desire to take ship for their countries at ports in the United States, rather than to require each case to be presented separately through diplomatic channels. But, as this course will involve further relaxation of the administration of the immigration laws of the United States, its adoption will depend on the willingness of each of the Governments concerned to give to the Government of the United States an assurance that its male citizens or subjects of military age whenever permitted to enter the United States during the present war will not be allowed to become public charges in this country. of I shall be glad to receive from you such an assurance on the part your Government. ROBERT LANSING File No. 150.07/47 The French Ambassador (Jusserand) to the Secretary of State [Translation] FRENCH EMBASSY, Washington, October 10, 1914. [Received October 12.] MR. SECRETARY OF STATE: I did not fail to forward to my Government the suggestion your excellency was pleased to make in your note of October 3 last in regard to the conditions under which reservists coming from Canada to New York for embarkation might be admitted with increased facilities into the territory of the United States. In answer to the telegram I had sent him, the Minister of Foreign Affairs authorizes me to give your excellency the assurance you desired, namely, that the French authorities concerned, would, if required, take the necessary measures to prevent any of the French citizens concerned becoming a public charge in the United States. Be pleased to accept [etc.] JUSSERAND File No. 150.07/46 The Austro-Hungarian Ambassador (Dumba) to the Secretary of State AUSTRO-HUNGARIAN EMBASSY, Manchester, Massachusetts, October 12, 1914. [Received October 15.] SIR: In reply to your note dated October 3 concerning the permission for nationals of belligerent countries to come to the United States from Canada for the purpose of embarking to the countries of which they are citizens or subjects, I beg to state, that this permission will hardly concern Austrian or Hungarian citizens, as Austrian and Hungarian reservists are practically debarred from the possibility to reach the Monarchy. To facilitate their passage to the United States would practically mean to increase the number of unemployed in this country liable to become a public burden. Moreover the Embassy is informed that the Canadian Government takes all possible precautions to prevent Austrian and Hungarian reservists from leaving the country. Accept [etc.] File No. 150.07/50 C. DUMBA The British Ambassador (Spring Rice) to the Secretary of State BRITISH EMBASSY, Washington, October 27, 1914. [Received October 28.] SIR: Referring to your notes of October 3 and October 221 relative to the passage of British reservists through United States ter 1Note of October 22 not printed. ritory, I have the honour to inform you that the Government of Canada desire me to give an assurance to the United States Government that, so far as British reservists are concerned, any who may enter the United States from Canada en route to the United Kingdom will be permitted to return to Canada without difficulty if they should become public charges in this country, regardless of whether or not they have acquired Canadian domicile by three years residence in Canada. I have the honour to request that I may be informed whether the United States Government regard this assurance as satisfactory and whether as a result they will issue general instructions to the immigration officer at Montreal to permit the transit of British reservists from Canada through United States territory to a United States port. I have [etc.] File No. 150.07/56 CECIL SPRING RICE The German Ambassador (Bernstorff) to the Secretary of State [Translation] GERMAN EMBASSY, Washington, November 17, 1914. MR. SECRETARY OF STATE: Referring to my note of October 6 last regarding the transit of reservists over the territory of the United States, I have the honor, in compliance with instructions, to inform your excellency that the Imperial German Government to its regret will not be in position to avail itself of the American Government's offer, as Great Britain has withdrawn its promise not to take persons liable to military service off neutral vessels. Accept [etc.] J. BERNSTORFF File No. 150.07/53 The Acting Secretary of State to the British Ambassador No. 551] (Spring Rice) DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, November 19, 1914. EXCELLENCY: Referring to your excellency's note of October 27 regarding the passage of British reservists from Canada through United States territory to ports of embarkation en route to the United Kingdom, and the Department's reply thereto of November 17, I have the honor to inform your excellency that the Department is now in receipt of a communication from the Department of Labor stating that it is of the opinion that the assurance which your excellency has transmitted to this Government for the Government of Canada, that "so far as British reservists are concerned, any who may enter the United States from Canada en route to the United Kingdom will be permitted to return to Canada without difficulty 'Not printed. if they should become public charges in this country, regardless of whether or not they have acquired Canadian domicile by three years residence in Canada," is not broad enough to meet the situation or to correspond with similar assurances which other governments have extended in the matter. The Department of Labor suggests that, in lieu of the above assurance, which your excellency has already forwarded to this Government for the Government of Canada, a guarantee be furnished that the reservists would depart from and out of the United States, or return to Canada without expense to the United States, or any community therein. As soon as your excellency's reply to this communication is received the Department will again take the matter up with the Department of Labor. Accept [etc.] ROBERT LANSING File No. 150.07/57 The Secretary of State to the British Ambassador (Spring Rice) DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, December 4, 1914. MY DEAR MR. AMBASSADOR: Referring to your note of October 27 last, relative to the issuance of general instructions to the immigration officials at Montreal to allow the reservists of Great Britain to pass through the United States en route to the United Kingdom, I beg to advise you of the receipt of a letter from the Acting Secretary of Labor, stating that such instructions have been sent to the Commissioner of Immigration at Montreal.1 I am [etc.] W. J. BRYAN THE SALE AND TRANSPORTATION OF CONTRABAND GOODS File No. 763.72112/38 The Acting Secretary of the Treasury (Newton) to the Secretary of State [Telegram] TREASURY DEPARTMENT, Washington, August 6, 1914. Please advise whether any duties devolve upon collectors of customs and other officers of this department to prevent the exportation of so-called contraband of war in the ordinary course of commerce; if so, please give list of articles recognized as contraband.2 B. R. NEWTON They were sent November 19 in response to a request of November 17 from the Department of State, without regard to the further question raised in the note printed, ante, p. 568. 'See the letter of the Acting Secretary of Commerce to the Secretary of State, August 6, 1914, post, p. 595, for instructions of August 5 to the collector of customs at New York regarding the clearance of foreign merchant vessels, containing the following directions: It must be unquestionable that she has no arms or munitions of war aboard. |