412.00/92: Telegram
The Ambassador in Italy (Page) to the Acting Secretary of State
[Received April 8, 12.14 p.m.]
2762. Referring to the Department’s 2042, March 14, 4 p.m. received through London Embassy. Foreign Office replies today to urgent memorandum of Embassy dated March 16 as follows:
“The Royal Ministry for Foreign Affairs has the honor to give the following answer to the note verbale number 2404 of the American Embassy dated March 16 concerning the Mexican law of November 24, 1917, for claims in connection with this country caused by the revolution.
With regard to the commission of arbitration destined to decide irrevocably as a court of appeals the claims of foreigners the Royal Government considers that the institution of this commission constitutes as far as it (the Royal Government) is concerned a deviation which the Mexican Government has seen fit to make without [Page 634] warning to the Royal Government from the terms of the Italian Mexican general treaty of arbitration of October 16th, 1907, [under] which all controversies between the two states must on the contrary be decided by a court of arbitration composed in accordance with article 4 of the said terms.
The Royal Government does not consider that it is able to accept purely and simply such a deviation decided without its consent. Hence the Royal Minister to Mexico has received instructions not to commit himself in the matter and not take part in the formation of the commission as the Royal Government intends in any case to make use of the rights due to it from the above mentioned treaty.
The Royal Ministry would be glad if the Federal Government would instruct its representatives [representative?] in Mexico to meet the Royal Minister in order to examine the matter together with him.
Delay probably due to M[inister of] F[oreign] A[ffairs] and majority higher Foreign Office officials [being] in Paris.