File No. 711.0021/44c.
The Secretary of State to Ambassador Page.
Washington, May 29, 1915.
Sir: Referring to the Department’s instruction of this day’s date, directing you to give notice to the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, pursuant to the provision of the Act of Congress of March 4, 1915, of the intention of the Government of the United States to abrogate the Treaty of June 3, 1892, with Great Britain, you are now instructed to inform the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs that the considerations which made that notice necessary apply equally to Article 10 of the Treaty of October 2, 1886, between the United States and the King of Tonga; and, as the protectorate over the Tonga Islands proclaimed by the Government of Great Britain on May 19, 1900, was subsequently accepted by the United States, you will, pursuant to the provisions of the Act of March 4, 1915, as set forth in the Department’s instruction of May 29 above mentioned, give notice to the ‘Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs of the intention of the Government of the United States to abrogate Article 10 of the Treaty of October 2, 1886, between the United States and the King of Tonga, in accordance with the stipulations of the treaty requiring one year’s notice, such abrogation to take effect on July 1, 1916.
Article 10 of the Treaty of October 2, 1886, with the King of Tonga reads as follows:
Should any member of the ship’s company desert from a vessel-of-war or merchant vessel of either of the High Contracting Parties, while such vessel is within the territorial jurisdiction of the other, the local authorities shall render all lawful assistance for the apprehension of such deserter, on application to that effect made by the Consul of the High Contracting Party concerned, or if there be no Consul, then by the master of the vessel.
I am [etc.]