File No. 812.00/7454.

The American Ambassador to the Secretary of State.

[Telegrams—Paraphrases.]

227. Referring to the Embassy’s 225, May 8, 8 p.m. After the interview related therein the President and the Minister for Foreign Affairs publicly stated that thereafter the relations with the Ambassador would be confined to simple routine matters and that no important questions would be discussed with the Embassy. The Department will understand that if adhered to this resolution would leave the President’s Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary in this country with the functions only of a simple Chargé d’Affaires. It is to be doubted whether it lies within the power of this Government to define the extent of its relations with a properly accredited and accepted diplomatic representative. The only means of circumscribing or terminating my full diplomatic functions would be to hand me my passports.

Henry Lane Wilson.