Mr. Hay to Mr. Clayton.
Washington, January 23, 1902.
Sir: I inclose herewith for your information a copy of a letter from the counsel of the claimants in the claim of the Roman Catholic Church of California against Mexico, growing out of the “Pious Fund” of the Californias, in which they express their willingness to submit the claim to arbitration.a
The letter of Messrs. Ralston & Siddons has the approval of the Department.
You will say to Mr. Mariscal that the Government of the United States would be pleased to have the case submitted to arbitration under Article XXXII of The Hague Convention. If this proposition is accepted by Mexico, the bases of the arbitration agreement having already been settled, the Department will then proceed to select arbitrators on its part; and Mexico having done the same, it will then be in order to prepare for signature the agreement of arbitration.
I am, sir, your obedient servant,
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