711.5821/45
The Minister in Sweden (Morris) to the Acting Secretary of
State
Stockholm, January 28,
1919.
[Received February
26.]
No. 1557
Sir: I have the honor, in conformity with
the Department’s instruction No. 551 of December 20, 1918, to
enclose herewith a copy of the note sent to the Swedish Foreign
Office on February 4, 1918, together with a copy of the reply from
the Foreign Office received February 12th the same year, both notes
concerning the abrogation of Articles XI and XII of the Treaty of
June 1, 1910 with Sweden.
I have [etc.]
[Enclosure 1]
The American Minister (Morris) to the Swedish Minister for Foreign
Affairs (Hellner)
Stockholm, February 4, 1918.
Excellency: Under instructions from my
Government,74 I have the honor to give to the Royal
Swedish Government on behalf of the Government of the United
States, the official notification contemplated by Article XIX of
the treaty concluded by the Government of the United States with
the Government of Sweden and Norway on July 4, 1827, whereby the
operation of the treaty will terminate, in accordance with its
terms, on February 4, 1919.
[Page 69]
As has been previously pointed out to the Government of Sweden,
the application of the fundamental principles of the Act of
Congress, approved March 4, 1915, to alien seamen within the
territorial jurisdiction of the United States involved an
abrogation of treaty provision inconsistent therewith. The
President, therefore, using the discretion which he considered
was granted to him to interpret the act in the sense
contemplated by Congress, authorized this Legation to propose an
arrangement between the two Governments which would carry out
the purpose of the act by the elimination of stipulations in the
treaty of July 4, 1827, inconsistent with the Act. Since the
Swedish Government apparently considers that it is not in a
position to acquiesce in an arrangement of this character, it
appears that a satisfactory solution of the existing situation
with regard to the stipulations in question can only be found in
the denouncement of the treaty in its entirety. I have the honor
to request that you be good enough to make acknowledgment to me
of this notification.
I avail myself [etc.]
[Enclosure
2—Translation]
The Swedish Minister for Foreign
Affairs (Hellner) to the
American Minister (Morris)
Stockholm, February 12, 1918.
Mr. Minister: I have the honor to
acknowledge the receipt of your note of the 4th instant by which
you have notified the Royal Government of the intention of the
Government of the United States of America to terminate on
February 4, 1919, the operation of the Treaty of Friendship and
Commerce concluded between Sweden and the United States of
America July 4, 1827.
I avail myself [etc.]
