File No. 2151/282–283.

Secretary of Legation Philip to the Secretary of State.

Sir: I have the honor to refer to the department’s telegraphic instructions of July 29, 1908, sent to me at Casa Blanca, in my capacity of American delegate to the mixed claims commission at that place, and which directed me (1) not to present the claims of persons against whose citizenship presumption had already been proved to exist; (2) to notify the mixed commission, when all other American claims had been considered, of the possible cancellation of awards of such claimants as might subsequently be unable to establish their character as American citizens; (3) not to present the claim of a Cuban citizen.

I beg to state that, it having been impossible to proceed with the business of receiving and examining applications for registration of naturalized American citizens residing at Casa Blanca previous to the work in connection with the presentation of American claims for consideration by the mixed commission, I therefore presented the claims of those persons who, during past years, had been accorded the rights of American citizens in Morocco by the representatives of our Government, in virtue of their naturalization as such, or for other reasons which appeared justifiable.

I beg to state that, in conformity with the department’s instructions. I made a formal communication in French to the mixed commission, a copy and translation of which I beg to transmit herewith, which I requested to be entered upon the official minutes of the proceedings, and which I trust will meet with the approval of the department.

I have, etc.,

Hoffman Philip.
[Inclosure.—Translation.]

Statement made by the American delegate to the Casa Blanca mixed claims commission.

I desire to bring to the knowledge of the international commission that my Government will decide, at a later date, should it be found necessary to cancel any of the awards for indemnity for losses resulting from the disturbances at Casa Blanca in 1907, in cases where claimants under our jurisdiction fail to establish manifestations of their “bona fide” American citizenship.