Mr. Choate to Mr.
Hay.
American Embassy,
London, June 3,
1902.
No. 868.]
Sir: With reference to your instruction No.
911, of May 9, relative to the representation of the United States at
Sofia I have the honor to inclose herewith a copy of my note to the
foreign office of the 23d ultimo and Lord Lansdowne’s reply thereto,
dated the 31st ultimo, in which his lordship states that he will have
much pleasure in instructing His Majesty’s agent and consul-general at
Sofia to take charge temporarily of American interests in Bulgaria, and
that he will be authorized to communicate with the Secretary of State at
Washington and the United States minister at Constantinople whenever he
may consider it desirable to do so.
I have, etc.,
[Inclosure 1.]
[Mr. White to
Lord Lansdowne.]
American Embassy, London, May 23,
1902.
My Lord: With reference to Mr. White’s note
of October 14 last, expressing the great pleasure with which my
Government recognized the valuable aid courteously extended by His
Majesty’s agency at Sofia and informing your lordship that
arrangements had been made for the appointment as American agent at
that capital of Mr. Charles M. Dickinson, consul-general at
Constantinople, I now have the honor to acquaint you that the
Bulgarian Government appears to be disinclined to receive Mr.
Dickinson unless the agency at Sofia be separated from the
consulate-general at Constantinople, which of course can only be
done by Congress.
In view of the fact that until Congress takes action in the matter
the United States has no representative in Bulgaria, I am directed
by my Government to ask your lordship to be so good as to instruct
Mr. Elliot to take charge of the interests of my Government, as
before, until other arrangements shall be made for our direct
representation there. If it should be the pleasure of His Majesty’s
Government to comply with this request, it is the hope of my
Government that Mr. Elliot will communicate freely with the
Secretary of State and with the American minister at Constantinople
on all matters in respect to which he may require to do so.
I nave, etc.,
[Page 523]
[Inclosure 2.]
Lord Lansdowne
to Mr. Choate.
Foreign Office, May
31, 1902.
Your Excellency: I have the honor to
acknowledge the receipt of your excellency’s note of the 23d instant
relative to the representation of the United States at Sofia.
In compliance with the request of the United States Government I
shall have much pleasure in instructing His Majesty’s agent and
consul-general in that capital to take charge temporarily of
American interests in Bulgaria, and I will authorize him to
communicate with the Secretary of State at Washington and with the
United States minister at Constantinople whenever he may consider it
desirable to do so.
I have, etc.,