Papers Relating to the Foreign Relations of the United States, With the Annual Message of the President Transmitted to Congress December 3, 1907, (In two parts), Part I

File No. 5063.

The Acting Secretary of State to Minister Jackson.

Department of State,
Washington, March 13, 1907.

No. 146 Greek Series.]

Sir: I have to acknowledge the receipt of your dispatch No. 509 Greek Series of the 23d ultimo, in regard to the protection of citizens or subjects of governments that are without diplomatic representatives in Greece, in which you cite two instances of application to vou for assistance by such persons.

Cases where informal good offices are solicited as described should be treated according to the discretion of the minister. No case requiring formal or informal treatment with the government of the country should be taken up by the legation unless with knowledge that such intervention is requested by the government of which the party is a citizen, permitted by the United States, and acquiesced in by the local government. See, for such protection to Swiss citizens, Foreign Relations, 1871 and 1872; for Chinese in Central America, Foreign Relations, 1894 and 1896.

I am, etc.,

Robert Bacon.