File No. 1229/5.
Mr. Howard (for the British Ambassador) to the Secretary of State.
Washington, March 20, 1907.
Sir: The condition laid down in Article I of the treaty between the United States and the British Governments of February 25, 1905, to the effect that the renunciation by the United States Government of their right of extraterritoriality in Zanzibar should not take effect until similar rights enjoyed there by other nations had been likewise renounced, had, as you are aware, not been fulfilled up to a recent date, owing to the failure to obtain the necessary parliamentary sanction by Portugal to the final surrender of her extraterritorial rights there.
I have now the honor to inform you that the Portuguese Government has obtained the sanction of parliament to the renunciation of these rights.
Germany is the only other country now remaining which possesses such rights under a definite treaty.
By the convention between Germany and Great Britain of November 14, 1899, the former power is bound to renounce extraterritorial rights in Zanzibar as soon as similar rights enjoyed there by other nations are abolished, and accordingly the German Government has been requested to give effect to the undertaking entered upon by them in the convention in question.
I have, therefore, the honor, under instructions from His Majesty’s Government to request that you would be so good as to bring this matter to the consideration of the United States Government with a view to effect being given to the undertaking embodied in the treaty of February 25, 1905.
I have, etc.,
(In the absence of the Ambassador.)