File No. 812.63/7a.

The Secretary of State to the British charge d’Affaires.

Sir: The policy adopted by the Governments of the United States and Great Britain in the agreement proposed in my note of June 1 [Page 719] [2], 1914,100 and in the note of acceptance by your Government, which had as its purpose the preservation of the interests of American citizens and British subjects in the Mexican oil-fields, may, in the view of this Government, be appropriately extended so as to cover the loss of title to mines and mining rights owned by American citizens and British subjects.

It appears from the informal conversations which I had at the Department with Ambassador Spring Rice, that such an extension of the policy would meet with the approval of your Government.

I have the honor, therefore, to propose that, this Government and the British Government agree that they will withhold all diplomatic support from their respective citizens or subjects, who claim directly or indirectly title or interest in mines or mining rights in Mexico, which they have acquired since January 1, 1913, or may hereafter acquire, directly or indirectly, by reason of the cancellation of contracts, leases or other forms of conveyance or by reason of the confiscation or taking by de facto authorities of mines or mining rights, in which American citizens or British subjects are interested, on the ground of default in contractual obligations or non-compliance with legal requirements, provided such default or non-compliance was unavoidable because of military operations or political disturbances in Mexico.

It should however, be distinctly understood that this agreement will not apply to any case in which the failure of the American or British owner of an interest in mines or mining rights in Mexico to perform his contractual obligations or to comply with a legal requirement was not the direct result of the political unrest prevailing in Mexico at the time of default, or to any case of bona fide transfer.

If the proposed agreement relative to mines and mining rights in Mexico is acceptable to your Government, a note stating their acceptance will be considered by this Government as putting the agreement into effect.

I have [etc.]

W. J. Bryan
.
  1. printed under Protection of American oil interests, p. 707.