File No. 881.00/592.
Chargé Blake to the Secretary of State.
Tangier, December 20, 1914.
British Chargé d’Affaires informs me that owing to Turkish intervention in European war, British Government has proclaimed a protectorate over Egypt. A full agreement having been rapidly reached between France, Spain and Great Britain concerning the international regime of Tangier, Great Britain consents to recognize the French protectorate in Morocco, in exchange for recognition of British protectorate in Egypt. British Legation here will be immediately suppressed and the British Chargé will be appointed Diplomatic Agent and Consul General.
The question of the suppression of the Capitulations in the two countries is reserved for ulterior discussion and forms no part of the present understanding. Italian, Spanish and our own are the only Legations remaining.
It is possible that the international statutes of Tangier may shortly be presented for the consideration of the Powers but their application will likely be deferred until the ending of the war as otherwise the international character of the community would entitle the expelled representatives of Germany and Austria-Hungary to recognize technicalities.
In exchange for compensations elsewhere, all the Powers with exception of the United States have now recognized the French protectorate. I see no reason why we should depart from our position that recognition of the French protectorate and the suppression of the American Legation must be deferred until the settlement of our outstanding cases has been discussed. This point of view is well understood and seems to be admitted by the French local authorities as being both logical and reasonable.