File No. 437.00/25.
[Untitled]
Sir: I have the honor to report that since writing my No. 86 of to-day’s date, I have received a personal note1 from my French colleague (copy and translation inclosed) requesting me to inform the Cuban Government that “the United States consider arbitration as the only way” to settle the question of the so-called “insurrectionary claims.”
I also enclose copy of my reply1 to the note above mentioned, stating that I was unable to find among the Department’s instructions anything which would warrant me in taking the action desired by the French Minister.
During the recent visit of Monsieur Jusserand to Habana he also broached the subject and requested that I support the British, French and German Ministers in their request for the arbitration of these claims. He informed me that the Department had instructed Mr. Jackson2 to make it clear to the Cuban Government that the American Government would be obliged to support any demand of the three interested powers for the arbitration of these claims. I have been unable to find any such instruction in the files of the legation.
I shall bear in mind, however, should occasion arise, the Department’s telegram of June 8 [1911]3 concerning its position on this question.
I have [etc.]
- Not printed.↩
- Not printed.↩
- The American Minister.↩
- For. Rel. 1911, p. 126.↩