711.5512A/8
The Belgian Ambassador (De Ligne) to the Secretary of State
Mr. Secretary of State: I had the honor to inform Your Excellency on June 6 last that the Government of the King accepted as a basis of discussion the drafts of treaties of conciliation and arbitration which had been communicated to me on March 26 last, but that it believed it expedient on that occasion to suggest to you some changes to be incorporated in the text of those treaties.
Having myself left the United States on leave, the Chargé d’Affaires had the opportunity, in the course of various interviews with the members of the State Department whom Your Excellency had been good enough to designate for that purpose, to set forth the reasons for which the Belgian Government considered it desirable that the drafts of treaties which had been submitted to it be modified. Mr. Silvercruys having been called to a conference by them, on September 21 last he came to an agreement with Messrs. Barnes and McClure8 upon a revised draft of the text which was to be submitted to Your Excellency for approval as well as to the Minister of Foreign Affairs at Brussels.
Upon my return to the United States, knowing the importance which the Belgian Government, on its part, also attached to the conclusion and signing of the agreements under consideration, I took the liberty, on different occasions, to recall both to Your Excellency and to your immediate associates that the Government of the King would be very glad to see the negotiations which had been opened on the proposal of the Government of the United States brought to a close.
Mr. Hymans9 having requested me by telegraph to let him know the present state of these negotiations, I should be very grateful to Your Excellency if you would be kind enough to inform me of the decision you have made in order that I, on my part, may report thereon to the Minister of Foreign Affairs at Brussels.
I take [etc.]