811.114 Canada/3448

The Secretary of State to the British Chargé ( Chilton )

Sir: Referring to the suggestion of Sir Austen Chamberlain set forth in your note No. 560, dated September 29, 1926, that cooperation might be desirable between His Majesty’s consular officers and the local United States officials at certain ports in the United States and/or in South or Central America, I take pleasure in stating that a communication has been received from the Secretary of the Treasury, reading in part as follows:—

“… such cooperation is desirable at the following ports:

United States: Portland, Maine.
Boston, Massachusetts.
New York, New York.
Savannah, Georgia.
Miami, Florida.
New Orleans, Louisiana.
Seattle, Washington.
San Francisco, California.

Central or South America. It is thought that cooperation between British and American officials in the following countries [Page 357] should be restricted to the heads of missions at capitals of these countries:

  • Mexico.
  • Honduras.
  • Salvador.
  • Panama.

“It would also be desirable to have this cooperation extended to Rotterdam, Netherlands; Lisbon, Portugal; and Havre, France.

“While it is assumed that cooperation in United States ports will be between British Consuls and Collectors of Customs, it is desirable that such cooperation at San Francisco, Savannah and New Orleans be accomplished with coordinators of this Department who are in charge of Customs, Coast Guard and Prohibition matters.”

At the request of the Secretary of the Treasury I shall be grateful if you will convey to His Majesty’s Government the keen appreciation felt by the Treasury Department for the splendid work accomplished by Mr. Robert Vansittart of the Foreign Office and by Sir Charles Hipwood of the Board of Trade in giving effect to the arrangement agreed upon at the London Conference.

Accept [etc.]

For the Secretary of State:
Joseph C. Grew