The Secretary of State to Delegate White.
Washington, April 5, 1906.
Your telegrama reciting provisions of general act indicates that there was not any stipulation to which we may not safely give acquiescence with the understanding that the United States assumes [Page 1492] no responsibility or obligation for their enforcement. This reservation should be made before signing. You will therefore take occasion to make in plenary session the following declaration: “The Government of the United States, having no political interest in Morocco, and no desire or purpose having animated it to take part in this conference other than to secure for all peoples the widest equality of trade and privilege with Morocco and to facilitate the institution of reforms in that country tending to insure complete cordiality of intercourse without and stability of administration within for the common good, declares that, in acquiescing in the regulations and declarations of the conference, in becoming a signatory to the general act of Algeciras, and to the additional protocol, subject to ratification according to constitutional procedure, and in accepting the application of those regulations and declarations to American citizens and interests in Morocco, it does so without assuming obligation or responsibility for the enforcement thereof.” Upon signing the general act the following statement should precede your names: “Under reserve of the declaration made in the plenary sitting of the conference of April (blank), 1906. Signatures follow.” This procedure follows the precedent of The Hague peace conference, and should be entirely satisfactory to all.
With this reservation expressed in some clear form, you and Mr. Gummeré are authorized to sign the general act.
- Not printed.↩