File No. 711.6821/21
Minister Droppers
to the Secretary of State
No. 118
American Legation,
Athens,
May 30, 1916.
Sir: I have the honor to transmit herewith
copy and translation of the reply of the Hellenic Government to your
request for the abrogation of Articles 12 and 13 of the Consular
Convention of November 19, 1902, and a copy of my acknowledgment of
the same.
The Greek Government consents to the abrogation of all provisions in
Articles 12 and 13 which may be contrary to the law of March 4,
1915, except in so far as the Royal Hellenic Navy is concerned.
I presume, however, that the ships of the Royal Hellenic Navy were
never meant to be included, so that this exception will be a matter
of indifference to the Department.
I have [etc.]
[Inclosure 1—Translation]
The Minister for Foreign
Affairs to Minister Droppers
No. 10113
Ministry of Foreign Affairs,
Athens,
May 7, 1916.
Mr. Minister: In answer to the letter
which your excellency sent me on April 8 last, I have the honor
to inform you that the communication of the United States
Government concerning the abrogation of the provisions of
[Page 42]
the Consular Convention
of November 19, 1902, between Greece and the United States of
America which are contrary to the law passed by the United
States Congress on March 4, 1915, and made known to the Greek
Government in Mr. Whitehouse’s note of June 30, 1915, has been
made the subject of a special study on the part of the services
concerned and has up to the present seriously occupied the
attention of the Committee on Merchant Marine.
The rules relating to the status of seamen which the Act of March
4, 1915, abrogated have, in our maritime legislation, the
character of administrative provisions and constitute one of the
guaranties of the proper operation of our merchant marine.
Nevertheless, in view of the legal situation created in the
United States by the Act of March 4, 1915, the Royal Government,
wishing to comply with the desire expressed by the Federal
Government, agrees to observe in this respect the conventional
rules in force between Greece and the United States and to
consider, therefore, as being abrogated the special provisions
of Articles 12 and 13 of the Convention of 1902 as far as they
are in opposition to the new American legislation.
It is well understood that all other provisions contained in the
said Articles 12 and 13, notably everything that concerns the
arrest, detention, and imprisonment of deserters from the Greek
Navy in the ports and waters of the United States, will continue
to remain in force on the same basis and with the same validity
as the other articles of the Convention of 1902.
I beg of your excellency kindly to acknowledge the receipt of the
foregoing declaration, and I renew [etc.]
[Inclosure 2]
Minister Droppers to the Minister
for Foreign Affairs
American Legation,
Athens,
May 30, 1916.
Your Excellency: I have the honor to
acknowledge the receipt of your excellency’s note No. 10113 of
the 7th instant by which your excellency informs me that the
Royal Hellenic Government consents to the abrogation of the
special provisions of Articles 12 and 13 of the Convention of
1902 between the United States and Greece in so far as they
conflict with the new American legislation of March 4, 1915.
I have duly informed my Government that the Royal Government
considers it as clearly understood that the abrogation of these
provisions in no way concerns the question of the arrest,
detention and imprisonment of deserters from the Hellenic Navy
in American ports and waters.
I have [etc.]
