125.655/124: Telegram
The Ambassador in Great Britain (Kellogg) to the Secretary of State
[Received 8:15 p.m.]
112. The following exchange of notes has been made today.
“His Excellency the Honorable Frank B. Kellogg. Your Excellency: I have the honor to inform you that after further consideration His Majesty’s Government are prepared not to insist upon the charge of exceeding their consular authority laid about a year and a half ago against the then American consul and vice consul at Newcastle-on-Tyne and it has therefore been recalled. I have the honor to be with the highest consideration Your Excellency’s obedient servant. (Signed) J. Ramsay MacDonald.”
“The Eight Honorable J. Ramsay MacDonald. Sir: I am instructed to inform you that it is the intention of my Government to reopen the consulate at Newcastle-on-Tyne and I have the honor to state that Mr. Charles Roy Nasmith has been appointed as consul of the United States at that port. I beg therefore to request you to be good enough to take the steps necessary for his recognition in that capacity in case the appointment be found agreeable to His Majesty’s Government. I have the honor to be with the highest consideration, Sir, your most obedient humble servant. (Signed) Frank B. Kellogg.”
While the above notes signed by me and the Minister for Foreign Affairs have been exchanged they are undated to be held in abeyance and not put on record until you signify your approval when the dates will be inserted.
I am also addressing the Minister for Foreign Affairs the following note:
“The Right Honorable J. Ramsay MacDonald. Sir: I have the honor to refer to the exchange and simultaneous publication of the notes between ourselves wherein the charge against the American consul and vice consul at Neweastle-on-Tyne which was brought about a year and a half ago has been recalled and the appointment of Mr. Charles Roy Nasmith as American consul at that port was made known to you together with the request that he be recognized in that capacity. In this connection I desire to state, confirming my conversation of this morning with Sir Eyre Crowe, that the Department of State at Washington will announce at the time of the publication of the notes that the British Government has agreed that Messrs. Slater and Brooks formerly consul and vice consul at Neweastle-on-Tyne may be assigned to posts within the British Empire and will shortly be sent to such posts. Confirming also the conversation above referred to, it is my understanding that the notes shall be released simultaneously in London and Washington for publication in the morning newspapers of April 3d, 1924. I have the honor to be with the highest consideration, Sir, your most obedient humble servant. (Signed) Frank B. Kellogg.”
And I have received the following note from the Foreign Office.
“March 31st, 1924. Immediate and confidential. Your Excellency. With reference to Your Excellency’s note number 125 of today’s date I have the honor to inform you that I shall be happy to take steps with a view to the issue of the King’s exequatur to Mr. Slater as United States consul at Fort William and Port Arthur, Canada, and to the formal recognition of Mr. Brooks as United States vice consul at Belfast so soon as Your Excellency has put forward the necessary request to this Department. (Signed) For the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs. G. R. Warner.”
If the notes quoted above and the memorandum contained therein are satisfactory please send me your approval immediately.