GENERAL REPRESENTATIONS BY FOREIGN GOVERNMENTS WITH RESPECT TO SENATE BILL Date and number Subject Page 1928 Feb. 25 Apr. 26 Apr. 28 Apr. 30 Apr. 30 May 3 (1413) June 12 (82) June 29 Memorandum by Mr. C. B. Hosmer, Division of Foreign Service Conversation with Mr. J. Balfour, First Secretary of the Observation that the effect of the Senate bill appears to be contrary to generally accepted principles of international law; desire to draw attention to difficulties which may attend the bill's enactment into law. To the Honorable Wallace H. White, Jr. Transmittal of British memorandum of April 26; belief that the Senate bill contravenes accepted principles of law that contracts of all kinds are to be governed as to their nature, validity, and interpretation by the law of place where they were made; information that Italian Embassy has made reservations; opinion that proposed bill will give rise to numerous conflicts of laws and may render American merchant marine subject to retaliatory measures by foreign governments. (Footnote: Mr. White was Chairman of the Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries of the House of Representatives.) From the Italian Embassy Observation that, while Senate bill provides that U. S. courts shall be open to seamen for claims concerning wages earned upon American or foreign vessels, article 11 of the consular convention between Italy and United States reserves such questions to Italian consular officials. From the Swedish Legation Representations against the Senate bill as being contrary to Opinion that proposed bill is contrary to international law. From the Danish Minister Opinion that extension of jurisdiction contemplated in the proposed bill would conflict not only with Danish law but also with generally accepted principles of international law; desire that this view be presented to the proper Committees, in anticipation that bill will come up at December session of Congress. To the Italian Embassy 831 832 833 834 834 835 836 836 Observation that article 11 of the consular convention cited is no longer in force. GENERAL REPRESENTATIONS BY FOREIGN GOVERNMENTS WITH RESPECT TO SENATE BILL RELATING TO PAYMENT OF ADVANCE WAGES TO SEAMEN ON FOREIGN VESSELS-Continued Transmittal of Danish note of June 12; observation that article 11 of the consular convention with Italy is no longer in force; opinion that the passage of the proposed bill would be undesirable. REPRESENTATIONS BY FOREIGN GOVERNMENTS REGARDING SENATE BILLS FOR THE DEPORTATION OF CERTAIN ALIEN SEAMEN 1927 Feb. 4 (74) Feb. 5 Feb. 7 1928 Jan. 4 From the British Ambassador Opinion that Senate bill 3574, providing for the deportation of certain alien seamen and other purposes will meet with strenuous opposition of British shipping interests; request for authoritative interpretation of the meaning of certain sections. (Footnotes: Information that an official of the Department of State advised the British Embassy regarding status of the bill, stating that it was unlikely that any House committee action would be taken without the Department having an opportunity to be heard. Information that the British and other representations were brought to the attention of the Senate Committee on Immigration.) From the German Ambassador Observation that proposed bill would prove an extraordinary burden to German shipping interests. From the French Chargé Opinion that proposed bill would prove cumbersome to the French colonial merchant marine; request for official interpretation of certain sections. (Footnote: Information that in a note of February 17, 1927, the Department stated that if it were decided to consider the bill further, hearings would be held which would undoubtedly bring out more clearly the purposes of the proposed measure.) From the British Embassy Representations against Senate bill 717, which is almost identical with Senate bill 3574 which was killed in the House of Representatives the preceding year. 838 839 839 840 (Footnote: Receipt from British Embassy of a memorandum dated May 3, 1929, with reference to Senate bill 202 introduced April 18, 1929, identical with Senate bill 717.) ALBANIA Date and number RECOGNITION OF ZOG I, KING OF THE ALBANIANS Subject Page 1928 Aug. 4 (48) From the Minister in Albania (tel.) 845 Decision of Ahmet Zogu, President of Albania, to proclaim himself King within 30 days. Aug. 28 (28) To the Minister in Albania (tel.) 845 Instructions to keep Department advised concerning the proposed change of regime and the action colleagues will take concerning recognition and attendance at coronation. 845 Aug. 30 (510) Sept. 1 (56) Sept. 5 (30) Sept. 6 (58) From the Minister in Albania Apparent finality of decision to proclaim Ahmet Zogu the From the Minister in Albania (tel.) Proclamation of Ahmet Zogu as "Zog I, King of the Albanians;" probability that there will be no coronation or ceremonies; information that colleagues are proceeding cautiously with regard to question of recognition; opinion that change of government has been brought about in a regular manner and will be accepted by Albania. To the Minister in Albania (tel.) Note from Albanian Minister, dated September 3 (text printed), announcing that on September 1 the Constitutional Convention unanimously voted the restoration of the monarchy and elected President Zogu as King of the Albanians. Instructions to cable information as to action taken or contemplated by colleagues concerning recognition. From the Minister in Albania (tel.) Note from Foreign Minister (excerpt printed) requesting recognition and stating intention to observe treaties signed by the Republic and to promote peace in the Balkans. Information that because change of regime is by statute, no question of treaty observance is involved, and that recognition has been granted by Italy, Greece, and Hungary. 846 847 847 Sept. 12 (35) To the Minister in Albania (tel.) 848 Note for Foreign Minister extending U. S. recognition and telegram of felicitation from President Coolidge to King Zog (texts printed). Sept. 14 From King Zog to President Coolidge (tel.) 848 Appreciation for telegram of felicitation. Sept. 20 (493) From the Minister in the Kingdom of the Serbs, Croats and 849 Sept. 27 (525) Opinion of Albanian Chargé that U. S. recognition has gone far to establish King Zog's government in the eyes of the world and has no doubt stimulated recognition by Yugoslavia. From the Minister in Albania Information concerning the intense gratification with which U. S. recognition was received in Albania. Foreign Minister's note (text printed) in reply to U. S. Minister's note extending recognition. 850 ALBANIA TREATIES OF ARBITRATION AND CONCILIATION BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND ALBANIA, SIGNED OCTOBER 22, 1928 Date and Subject Page number 1928 Apr. 24 (10) To the Minister in Albania (tel.) 852 Delivery to Albanian Minister of draft treaties of arbitration and conciliation. Oct. 9 From the Albanian Minister 853 Receipt of instructions to sign the treaties of arbitration and conciliation, and also the treaty for the renunciation of war. Oct. 22 Treaty Between the United States of America and Albania 853 Oct. 22 Treaty Between the United States of America and Albania 855 AUSTRIA NEGOTIATIONS RESPECTING SUBORDINATION OF THE AUSTRIAN RELIEF LOAN TO A PROPOSED NEW AUSTRIAN LOAN; AUTHORIZATION OF A DEBT AGREEMENT 1927 Dec. 29 Memorandum by the Economic Adviser 858 Summary of present status of negotiations concerning proposed new Austrian internal reconstruction loan. 1928 Jan. 14 (13) Jan. 16 (7) Jan. 19 (4) Jan. 21 (5) From the Chargé in France (tel.) Decision by Reparation Commission to give favorable consideration to Austrian application for deferment of the lien on Austrian assets and revenues under Treaty of St. Germain, in order to insure service of the proposed new Austrian loan. From the Austrian Minister Deferment by Reparation Commission and all other creditor nations, except the United States, of their liens for a period of 30 years beginning from the issue of the proposed new Austrian loan; request that recommendation be made to Congress for a bill authorizing 30-year deferment of U. S. lien, in order that the loan negotiations may proceed without further obstruction; desire for separate treatment of deferment of lien and debt questions. From the Minister in Austria (tel.) Chancellor's hope that U. S. Government is convinced of Austria's earnest attempt to effect relief debt settlement and will therefore be satisfied with expediting action without awaiting a final settlement by agreement. To the Minister in Austria (tel.) Observation that the Executive cannot decide on Austrian request to approach Congress with a recommendation for deferment of lien without first making an independent investigation of the proposed loan's bearing upon Austria's economic and financial status; information that Austrian Minister has been thus informed and advised that additional data will be welcomed. 859 860 861 862 AUSTRIA NEGOTIATIONS RESPECTING SUBORDINATION OF THE AUSTRIAN RELIEF LOAN TO A PROPOSED NEW AUSTRIAN LOAN-Continued From the Minister in Austria Subject Information that Chancellor will furnish Minister duplicates of material Austrian Government is supplying to J. P. Morgan & Co. representative now making a thorough investigation of Austria's financial status; also that Morgan representative will furnish substance of the data he collects. From the Austrian Minister Correspondence between Austrian Government and the International Relief Bonds Committee in London, comprising original Austrian proposal for settlement of relief debt, counterproposal by Committee, and Austrian reply of January 14, 1928 (texts printed); Austrian proposal for funding of relief debt to the United States (text printed). To the Austrian Legation Principal aspects of the proposed loan on which the Department lacks adequate data. From the Minister in Austria Transmittal of documents furnished by Finance Ministry to the Morgan representative; latter's opinion that general situation in Austria has substantially improved since two or three years previously. To the Minister in Switzerland (tel.) Instructions to ascertain whether League Financial Committee has studied proposed Austrian loan or whether it has any reason for not interesting itself in this loan as it did in the 1923 loan. (Instructions to repeat to the Legation at Vienna, together with reply when ready, and to mail texts to the Embassies at London and Paris.) From the Austrian Minister Arguments in favor of the proposed loan; plea, however, that legislation for deferment of lien be recommended to Congress and that judgment as to merits of Austrian loan be postponed to a time when question of American participation comes up for decision. From the Minister in Switzerland (tel.) Information that League Financial Committee is not interesting itself in the present loan because it was not requested by Austria to set up the machinery for a loan nor is Austria taking any action that might jeopardize seriously the country's entire financial structure. (Repeated to the Legation in Austria.) From the Minister in Austria (tel.) Austrian statement (text printed) setting forth improvements in railways and posts which are contemplated under the proposed loan. (Request that copy be given to Austrian Minister.) 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