494.11/72: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in China (Johnson)
101. Your 150, March 9, 4 p.m.81 In cases in which claimants, or persons executing statements in support of claimants’ allegations, are so far removed from an officer authorized to administer oaths that the execution of sworn statements would involve considerable hardship, their unsworn statements subscribed to before two witnesses will be acceptable to the Department provided each document contains a recitation by the declarant of the reasons why it has not been sworn to. However, it should be made clear to claimants that no assurances can be given that such unsworn statements will be acceptable to the government against which claim is made, or to an international claims tribunal should it become necessary or possible to submit claims arising out of the present conflict to such a tribunal.
If such unsworn statements are filed with an embassy or consular office, claimants should, if possible, remedy the situation by having them sworn to at some subsequent time when it is more convenient for the declarant to visit such office.
- Not printed.↩