811.0141 Phoenix Group/105½
The Secretary of State to the British Chargé (Mallet)
The Secretary of State presents his compliments to the British Chargé d’Affaires ad interim and refers to the British Embassy’s memorandum of November 26, 1938,17 in which it is stated that His Majesty’s Government are proceeding with their proposals for the settlement of Gardner, Hull, and Sydney Islands.
The United States Government has stated on several occasions that it is desirous of entering into discussions with the British Government concerning the status and use of those Pacific Islands which both Governments claim, and it stands ready to institute such discussions at any date agreeable to the British Government. In the meantime, the United States Government cannot, of course, acquiesce in the proposed settlement of islands which are claimed by the United States.