Mr. Conger to Mr. Hay.
(Mr. Conger acknowledges receipt of the Department’s instructions of December 19, just as the ministers were about to sign the joint note. Found it impossible to secure the omission of the word “irrevocable” that day, and reports that it can only be done, if at all, by opening the whole question for other and objectionable changes. He is confident it will be very prejudicial to the negotiations if he is not permitted to sign now, and thinks it will never be possible to secure unanimity on another note with so few objections as this one has. He awaits the Department’s definite instructions.)