Mr. White to Mr. Hay.
London, February 10, 1903.
Sir: * * *
I have visited the foreign office daily and have had interviews on each occasion with Lord Lansdowne or Mr. Villiers, sometimes with both, in order to keep in close touch with the situation and in the hope of being able to telegraph you that the signature of the protocols might be very shortly expected, but I am unfortunately not yet in a position to do so.
It would seem, however, that Great Britain has arrived at a settlement with Mr. Bowen, who, I understand, is prepared to sign the protocols forwarded to the British ambassador at Washington for that purpose, but that the demands of Germany for preferential treatment of her first rank claims bar the way to a signature by the three blockading powers of the protocols and to the consequent raising of the blockade.
There can be no doubt that this Government is exceedingly anxious to reach a settlement and to raise the blockade, especially before the opening of Parliament on the 17th, and that they are making every effort to induce the other two blockading powers to sign the protocols.
I have, etc.,