GENERAL PROPOSED DISPOSITION OF PROPERTY HELD BY THE ALIEN PROPERTY Date and number Subject Page 1928 June 16 June 22 June 26 (492/R) Aug. 3 Aug. 21 To the British Embassy Suggestion that the British Government may desire to instruct the Public Trustee to discontinue actions in Supreme Court of the District of Columbia to recover certain ex-enemy securities turned over by him pursuant to an agreement reached in October 1921 after conferences between representative of the Public Trustee and the Alien Property Custodian. Observation that the action of Public Trustee is in repudiation of an arrangement entered into in good faith and scrupulously observed by Alien Property Custodian. To the Austrian Minister Statement by Commissioner of the Tripartite Claims Commission of June 5 (text printed) explaining impossibility of granting certification without accurate knowledge of maximum of judgments which can be rendered against Austria, advising that plans have been made to facilitate matters by affording opportunity for agents of the respective governments to explain to Commission progress in each case; information that Hungarian cases will be dealt with separately. From the Hungarian Chargé Inquiry as to time limit for filing claims for return of property of Hungarian nationals, disposition of unclaimed property of Hungarian nationals, and amounts of Hungarian property held by Alien Property Custodian. To the Hungarian Chargé Information from Alien Property Custodian that property held to credit of Hungarian citizens will not be credited to German Government, that there is no time limit for filing a claim, and that he will be glad to furnish list of persons for whom his office holds assets when release of Hungarian property is begun, but that at present he does not have a sufficient force to do so. To the First Secretary of Embassy in France 475 483 484 485 485 Transmittal to First Secretary, as acting American observer on the Reparation Commission, of queries from War Claims Arbiter for information to assist in determining the value of seized German shipping. Sept. 7 From the Chargé in France 486 Replies to queries of War Claims Arbiter as secured from Reparation Commission's records and after consultation with the competent officials. Oct. 6 From the Austrian Minister 487 Oct. 6 (643) Request that all sequestrated property of the Austrian From the Chargé in Rumania Desire of Ministry of Finance that steps be taken to hasten release of assets of the Austro-Hungarian Bank seized by Alien Property Custodian, in order that the portion of these assets assigned to Rumania might be available to it as soon as possible. 488 GENERAL PROPOSED DISPOSITION OF PROPERTY HELD BY THE ALIEN PROPERTY Oct. 30 Information that the necessary procedure has been ordered to comply with Austrian Minister's request for transfer of funds belonging to the Austrian Government. From the British Embassy Inability to concur in U. S. construction that the 1921 negotiations resulted in an agreement between the two Governments or in U. S. suggestion that the Public Trustee is endeavoring to repudiate an arrangement entered into in good faith and scrupulously observed by the Alien Property Custodian. Assurance that the suit is merely an attempt to obtain a definite interpretation of the legal position in regard to court decisions subsequent to the negotiations mentioned. Regret that the British Government do not see their way clear to instruct Public Trustee to discontinue the court actions. 489 PROPOSALS TO EUROPEAN COUNTRIES FOR AGREEMENTS AND TREATIES REGARDING NATURALIZATION, DUAL NATIONALITY, AND MILITARY SERVICE 1928 Mar. 1 To the Honorable Stephen G. Porter Dec. 1 (167) Dec. 1 (2993) Comments, as requested by the House Committee on Immigration and Naturalization, regarding H. J. Res. 195, introduced February 7 (text printed), which requests the negotiation of agreements and treaties with other nations to protect persons born in the United States of foreign parentage and naturalized citizens from liability for military service and other acts of allegiance upon temporary sojourn in such nations. To the Ambassador in Belgium Joint resolution as approved by the President on May 28, 1928 (text printed); instructions to propose the conclusion of a convention regarding military service to protect persons having dual nationality, the case of naturalized citizens already having been covered in the existing naturalization treaty; instructions to ascertain willingness to consider adoption of agreement for termination of dual nationality arising at birth, upon attainment by the persons concerned of a prescribed age. (Sent also, mutatis mutandis, on the same date, to missions in Bulgaria, Denmark, Great Britain, Norway, Portugal, and Sweden.) To the Ambassador in France Desirability of including in draft treaty of naturalization, now under consideration between the two Governments, a provision concerning military service with regard to persons having dual nationality; instructions to inquire whether whole question of termination of dual nationality by adoption of an agreement might not be considered. (Similar instructions on the same day to missions in Greece, Italy, Poland, Spain, and Yugoslavia.) 494 497 499 GENERAL PROPOSALS TO EUROPEAN COUNTRIES FOR AGREEMENTS AND TREATIES REGARDING NATURALIZATION, DUAL NATIONALITY, AND MILITARY SERVICE-Continued Date and number Subject Page 1928 Dec. 1 (583) To the Chargé in Estonia Instructions to submit to government to which accredited draft treaty concerning naturalization and military service (text printed); instructions to inquire whether whole question of termination of dual nationality by adoption of an agreement might not be considered. (Sent also, mutatis mutandis, to missions in Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, and Rumania.) 500 SECOND INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON EMIGRATION AND IMMIGRATION, HELD AT HABANA, MARCH 31-APRIL 17, 1928 Instructions to make clear the U. S. Government's position that control of immigration is a matter of purely domestic concern, and to take no action inconsistent with this attitude or in any way committing the U. S. Government. 505 Aug. 24 From the Cuban Chargé 507 Transmittal of certified copy of Final Act of the Conference with request that the U. S. Government adhere to resolution to hold next conference at Madrid. Opinion that no useful purpose is served by such conferences other than exchange of technical information which can be achieved by direct correspondence; U. S. inability to adhere to resolution or to participate in a third conference. SIXTH INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE OF AMERICAN STATES, HELD AT HABANA, JANUARY 16 TO FEBRUARY 20, 1928 Invitation to be represented at the Sixth International Conference of American States, to open at Habana on January 16, 1928. Nov. 8 (85) To the Chargé in Cuba (tel.) Instructions to inquire of Foreign Minister as to correctness of press report (text printed) that League of Nations has been invited to send a member of Secretariat to follow proceedings of the Conference, and if answer is in the affirmative, to state the U. S. view that no non-American nation or entity should attend Pan American conferences and the U. S. hope that Cuban Government will concur. 527 528 529 GENERAL SIXTH INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE OF AMERICAN STATES, HELD AT HABANA, JANUARY 16 TO FEBRUARY 20, 1928-Continued Subject Page Date and number 1927 Nov. 9 (108) Nov. 9 (2352) Nov. 10 (87) Nov. 11 (109) From the Chargé in Cuba (tel.) Information that Foreign Minister sent for Chargé and, referring to telegram from Cuban Ambassador in Washington, advised that the Cuban Government not only did not invite a League of Nations representative, but refused Secretary General's request for invitation, as well as a request from Spanish Government. From the Chargé in Cuba Report of the conversation with the Foreign Minister; information that in view of the voluntary information on Foreign Minister's part, the Chargé made no mention of Department's telegram No. 85 of November 8. To the Chargé in Cuba (tel.) Geneva press report (text printed) stating that the League Secretariat probably will participate in work of preliminary organization for the Conference, that Señor Cristobal Rodriguez, member of the Secretariat, is being sent to Habana, and that probably one or more League interpreters may go. Instructions to inquire immediately and report definitely regarding measures taken by Cuba with the League. From the Chargé in Cuba (tel.) Information from Foreign Minister that the League was consulted concerning strictly mechanical preparations for the Conference; that Rodriguez was anxious to come to Cuba to assist, Cuba has refused to allow him to come in any but a purely personal capacity; that owing to lack of competent interpreters in Cuba the League was asked whether some of its interpreters could be obtained as individuals to serve; and that no League official had been invited to come to Cuba in any capacity whatsoever. 530 531 532 533 Feb. 20 Convention Regarding the Duties and Rights of States in the 612 Feb. 20 Convention Regarding the Pan American Union 615 GENERAL INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE OF AMERICAN STATES ON CONCILIATION AND ArbiTRATION, HELD AT WASHINGTON, DECEMBER 10, 1928, TO JANUARY 5, 1929; PRELIMINARY ARRANGEMENTS Date and number 1928 Apr. 14 (1364) To the Ambassador in Brazil Subject Page Apr. 14 (71) Apr. 30 (219) May 5 (594) Instructions to inform Brazilian Government that, in accordance with resolution of February 18, 1928, by the Pan American Conference at Habana, the U. S. Government suggests that a conference be held in Washington, December 10, 1928, for the purpose of drawing up a convention of arbitration and conciliation, and that each country send two delegates; also to inquire if these suggestions are acceptable. Desire for information with regard to attitude of Brazilian Government on question of arbitration and conciliation; information that as Brazil has ratified the Gondra Treaty regarding conciliation it would appear that that subject has been properly taken care of. (Sent also, mutatis mutandis, on the same date, to missions in Chile, Cuba, Haiti, Mexico, Paraguay, Uruguay, and Venezuela.) To the Ambassador in Argentina Instructions similar to those to Ambassador in Brazil, except for instructions to state informally the U. S. hope that the Argentine Government will ratify the Gondra Treaty and deposit ratifications at Santiago, Chile, before the Conference. (Sent also, mutatis mutandis, on the same date to missions in Bolivia, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru, and Salvador. A similar instruction was sent to the mission in Ecuador on May 9, 1928.) From the Chargé in Cuba Acceptability to Cuba of the Department's suggestions. Acceptability to Honduras of Department's suggestions. 621 623 623 625 May 8 (1700) From the Minister in Panama 625 Information that Panaman ratification of Gondra Treaty has already been sent to Santiago. Opinion that there is no doubt of Panama's readiness to adhere to proposed convention. May 10 (620) From the Chargé in Uruguay 626 May 11 (885) Favorable attitude of Uruguay toward principle of arbitration; expectation of an early answer to note presented in accordance with Department's instruction of April 14. From the Minister in the Dominican Republic Informal opinion of Foreign Minister that suggestions for Conference will be acceptable; his endorsement of arbitration and conciliation; his observation that ratification of Gondra Treaty might opportunely precede the conference. Expectation of early advice as to Government's attitude. 626 |