467.11St25/52
The Ambassador in Great Britain (Davis) to the Secretary of
State
London, December 24,
1919.
[Received January
20, 1920.]
No. 1872
Sir: With reference to your Instruction No.
283 of July 7th, 1919, regarding the action of the British
Authorities in examining certain maps and papers of the Standard Oil
Company in the custody of their representative at Jerusalem, I have
the honor to transmit herewith copies of a Note No. 158558/M.E. 44A
of December 13th, 1919, which I have received from the Foreign
Office in response to my representations in the premises.
[Here follows a summary of the enclosure.]
I would add for your information that, upon the receipt of the
Department’s Instruction, I took up the matter with the Foreign
Office at once, under date of July 30th, 1919. The reply of the
British Government, which I now transmit, was deferred for some
months, and the Foreign Office has accordingly expressed regret at
the delay incurred in the connection.
I have [etc.]
[Enclosure]
The British Secretary of State for Foreign
Affairs (Curzon) to the
American Ambassador (Davis)
London, December 13,
1919.
No. 158558/M.E.44A.
The Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs presents his
compliments to the United States Ambassador, and has the honour
to refer to the note No. 515 which Mr. Davis was good enough to
address to him on the 30th July last requesting information (a) as to whether the Spanish Consul at
Jerusalem assented to the examination by His Majesty’s military
authorities of certain documents belonging to the Standard Oil
Company and in the custody of the Company’s representatives at
Jerusalem, (b) whether any counter claims
covering the concessions granted by the Ottoman Government to
the Standard Oil Company or assigned to them by other persons
had been made, and (c) whether holders of
concessions granted by the Ottoman Government had been permitted
by His Majesty’s military authorities in Palestine to operate
them since the occupation of that country by His Majesty’s
military forces.
[Page 262]
As a result of the investigations which have been made, it has
been ascertained that in reply to an application for his assent
to the examination of the documents belonging to the Standard
Oil Company, the Spanish Consul at Jerusalem stated that his
consent was not necessary as Ismail Husseini and Suleiman Bey
Nassif were not under his jurisdiction.
In regard to the other two points Lord Curzon has the honour to
state that no counter claims covering concessions granted by the
Ottoman Government to the Standard Oil Company or assigned to
them by other persons have been made, nor have holders of
concessions granted by the Ottoman Government been permitted by
His Majesty’s military authorities in Palestine to conduct any
operations since the Occupation.
Lord Curzon desires to express his regret at the delay in
replying to Mr. Davis’ note.
