711.4115A/16a
The Secretary of State to the British Chargé ( Craigie )
Sir: I have the honor to refer to a note from the Embassy, dated July 3, 1907, and this Department’s reply, dated July 10th, of the same year,32 having to do with the question of the administration by the British North Borneo Company of certain islands on the East Coast of Borneo. It was provided in paragraph five of the arrangement covered by that exchange of notes that the understanding, by which the said islands were left for the time being under the administration of the Company, should “continue until the said two governments may by treaty delimit the boundary between their respective domains in that quarter, or until the expiry of one year from the date when notice of termination be given by either to the other.”
[Page 776]The Governor of the Philippine Islands has informed this Government that for reasons of public order and control, and to complete the organization of local government in the south Philippines, it is highly desirable that the above mentioned arrangement be terminated, at least in so far as it applies to certain of the islands in question.
This Government is informed that the Government of the Philippine Islands has made all of the necessary preparations to extend its administration over these islands upon receipt of advice that they have been turned over.
In view of the above circumstances I have the honor to ask that you will bring this matter to the attention of your Government with the request that it will authorize you to enter into negotiations with the Department with a view to effecting a new understanding between the two Governments modifying the arrangement of 1907 with respect to certain of the islands in question, and leaving the others under the administration of the British North Borneo Company, until such time as a definitive delimitation may have been effected.
Accept [etc.]