125.655/26: Telegram
The Ambassador in Great Britain ( Harvey ) to the Secretary of State
[Received 7:44 p.m.]
447. From Johnson concerning Newcastle matter:
An examination of the files of consulate at London shows that the North Atlantic Passenger Conference complained on June 7th [Page 398] that the Newcastle consulate had intimated to certain applicants for visa that the visa would only be granted conditionally on their traveling by ships of the United States Lines. This was at once referred to Newcastle consulate which while admitting it had “electioneered” on behalf of the United States Lines denied that it had ever endeavored to give any applicant for visa reason to believe that the visa would be granted on condition that he sailed by, the United States Lines. This answer was duly communicated to the North Atlantic Passenger Conference on June 10th by the consul general who added that he felt entirely convinced that information to the contrary effect which might have reached the Conference was erroneous. The North Atlantic Conference thereupon instead of specifying the nature of its evidence appears to have taken the matter up with the Foreign Office. Subsequent efforts to obtain from it the evidence upon which its charges were based have been met with the statement that as the matter has been placed in the hands of the Foreign Office the Conference was not in a position to go further into the matter with the consulate general.
The Foreign Office has indicated in a note to the Embassy that if I will visit it the competent officer will be pleased to discuss the matter with me. This of course I am not authorized to do but intimation has been made to the Foreign Office that I am ready at any time to inspect any evidence which it may wish to show me. An early reply is expected and I feel that Slater and Brooks should be held here until we are sure that the nature of the evidence in the hands of the Foreign Office will not require further statements on their part but that they should then be allowed to proceed to their posts.
The Newcastle district continues to attack the Government and under the circumstances it has seemed unwise to proceed there for evidence, at least before seeing that in possession of the Foreign Office, as the only people there who would be willing to give me anything would be those, including the Chamber of Commerce, who would wish to use me as stick to strike at the Foreign Office.
I have questioned both Slater and Brooks and have gone carefully through the files of the consulate here in London and I do not find anything in their statements or in the files which would indicate that they had been guilty of the acts complained of by the North Atlantic Passenger Conference and the Foreign Office. I find ample evidence, however, to show that these men as well as a number of their colleagues in the British Isles have interested themselves in active and open advocacy of the use of the United States Lines utilizing in particular the opportunity furnished by the inevitable wait during which passports were being sealed and stamped. Arguments to use United States Lines directed by persons lacking in judgment [Page 399] to the ignorant and suspicious minds of people of the emigrant class would lend themselves easily to misconstruction by interested persons especially in an atmosphere electrified by a keen competition between shipowners and ticket agents for the patronage of emigrants. The zeal of these officers has been due entirely to the fact that the ships were nationally owned and although the consulate general requested instructions of the Department as early as May 30th, 1922 (serial number 13168)39 no instructions have been issued for their guidance.
[Paraphrase.] In view of the circumstances and for the sake of the morale of the Service, I trust that the Department will not hurry to reopen the Newcastle consulate until the Foreign Office either proves its charges by sufficient evidence or withdraws them. The charges seem to be founded merely upon prejudiced and distorted views of ill-timed activities by officers zealously interested in the welfare of American Government vessels.
Castle40 adds following: Johnson has very carefully studied the situation and has complete evidence which I have examined. I am in entire agreement with his report given above. One must remember that the chief cause of this controversy is opposition by the British to government-owned ships. Our consuls have urged patronage of the United States Lines because the American taxpayers run them and they have even refused to accept the literature of private American lines. This has created a bad impression, the British believing that our consuls will engage in unfair activity on behalf of government vessels. This question makes urgent a decision with respect to the question of shipping United States immunities [sic]. I strongly feel that it is necessary to give our consuls clear and specific instructions as soon as possible.
I expect soon to have lunch with Sperling.41 If he says anything of importance I will cable. [End paraphrase.]