862i.73/59
The Secretary of State to the British Ambassador (Howard)
Excellency: I have the honor to enclose a translation of a note dated November 13, 1925, received from the German Ambassador at this capital,22 setting forth the desire of his Government to have the Yap–Menado cable transferred to the Netherlands Government as soon as possible in accordance with the Washington Arrangement, and inquiring as to the impediments which prevent ratification.
I shall be grateful if you will be so good as to bring the contents of this communication to the attention of your Government and furnish me at an early date a statement of its views regarding the action to be taken in response to the request of the German Government that steps be taken as soon as possible to complete the transfer of the Yap–Menado cable to the Government of the Netherlands as final and complete compensation for all claims of the Dutch Government and of Dutch subjects as regards their interests in the German-Dutch Telegraph Company. Representatives of the Netherlands Government have also brought to my attention the urgency of a settlement of this matter without delay.
In the circumstances I am prepared to take the necessary steps for the definitive conclusion of the proposed Arrangement relating to the former German cables in the Pacific Ocean tentatively accepted at the conference at Washington.
Similar communications transmitting translations of the German Ambassador’s note have been addressed to the Ambassadors of France, Italy and Japan at this capital.
Accept [etc.]