702.0011f/26
The Secretary of State to the Secretary of War (Weeks)
My Dear Mr. Secretary: I have received your letter of December 30, 1924,11 relating to the failure of a number of foreign consular officers functioning in the Panama Canal Zone to present exequaturs issued by the Government of the United States.
Since it appears that all consular officers exercising their functions in the Canal Zone were advised June 3, 1924,12 that they should obtain United States exequaturs prior to January 1, 1925, it would seem that sufficient time had been allowed them within which to comply with this regulation. I desire, therefore, to express my approval of the procedure suggested by the Acting Governor of the Canal in his [Page 656] telegram of December 27, 1924,13 wherein he proposes to issue a notice informing foreign consular officers that only those possessing United States exequaturs will be regarded as authorized to transact consular business in the Canal Zone after January 1, 1925.
I deem it advisable, however, that an exception be made in the proposed notice to cover the cases of such consular officers as may have obtained the provisional recognition of this Government.
I am [etc.]