File No. 811.5241/76

The British Ambassador to the Secretary of State

No. 40

Sir: You will recollect that Article III of the convention between the United States and Great Britain, signed on the 2d of March, 1899, provides that

in case of the death of any citizen of the United States of America in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, or of any subject of Her Britannic Majesty in the United States, without having in the country of his decease any known heirs or testamentary executors by him appointed, the competent local authorities shall at once inform the nearest consular officer of the nation to which the deceased person belonged of the circumstance, in order that the necessary information may be immediately forwarded to persons interested.

It appears that His Majesty’s consul at San Juan, Porto Rico, has during his tenure of office received various inquiries from colonial officials and others in regard to the alleged decease of British subjects on the island as well as to the disposal of property left by them and that he has in no case received any notification from the local authorities in relation thereto. He accordingly inquired of the Secretary of Porto Rico whether the convention of March 2, 1899, was deemed to apply to the dependent territory of Porto Rico. The Secretary stated in reply that a careful search in the files of his office had failed to disclose sufficient information to enable him to answer the inquiry and he suggested that the matter should be taken up with the Department of State.

Clause 3 of Article IV stipulate that the provisions of the convention shall apply to any territories pertaining to or occupied and governed by the United States beyond the seas only upon notice to that effect being given by the representative of the United States in London.

I have the honor to request that you will be so good as to inform me whether the convention in question is deemed by the United States Government to apply to the island of Porto Rico.

I have [etc.]

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