Evening star., 1923-03-09
State Department Bares Let
ters to Foreign 0ffice-Lat-
est English Note Published.
CHARGE AGAINST CoNSULS
UNF0UNDED, CLAIM HERE
England Declares Cancellation Of
Exequators Not Subject to
Any Discussion.

Further light was shed on the di-
vergent positions taken by the United
States and British governments in the
Newcastle consulate incident In the
publication today of statements on
the case by both governments along
with the last British note and the en-
tire series of American communica
lions
The documents on the American
side of the case were made public by
the State Department Immediately
after the British embassy. by direc-
tion of the foreign office, had issued
with the text of its last note state
ment explaining that it had not lin
vlted a discussion OF the grounds"
upon which the British government
withdrew It's recognition of Consul
Slater and Vice Consul Brooks To
remove what was regarded S a mis-
apprehension on this point, the state
ment said the reasons for the action
taken were conveyed to the United
states government merely in compli-
ancc with the existing commercial
convention between the two govern
mentS.
shows American Contentious.
While the correspondence showed
the American government to have
adhered throughout to its conclusion
that the charges had not been sub
stantiated, it was plainly revealed
that its position in defense Of the
consular officers was based primarily
on the circumstances that the charges
were given publicity in London. For
this the British government, in the
note made public which was signed
by Lord Curzon and dated December
-, disclaimed all responsibility.
Although the British government
subsequently offered to drop the
charges if the consulate were re-
opened. the American government re-
piled that this course would be ac-
ceptable only on condition that it
agreed again to grant recognition to
Messrs. Slater and Brooks as con-
sular officers there and ito the sinful
taneous issue at the two capitals Of
an announcement in a form salts
tory to both governments of the
action taken and the reasons there
for
British Notes Withheld.
While there are gaps in the inter
change between the two govern
ments, due to the lack Of British
notes not made public, the whole
correspondence and the accompany
ing statements throw into sharp re-
lief the fact that the American posi-
ton in defense of Consul Slater and
Vice Consul Brooks is based pri-
marily on the circumstance that
charges against them were given
publicity in London. The British cor
respondence fatty disclainls RESPONSE
bility for that publicity
The British note. signed by Lord
Curzon and dated December %, 1922,
was prefaced by the following state
ment issued by the embassy:
Statement From Emba.sy.
The official pronouncement on the
subject of the United States consulate
at Newcastle. which appeared in the
newspapers of the 4th instant, con-
tatned a statement TO the effect that
the British government, by speci-
Tying the reasons why the American
consular officers at that post had be-
come unacceptable, had in effect in
N1ted a discussion of these reasons
In order to remove the misapprehen-
sion which appears to exist on this
point the British foreign Office are
causing statement to be published
in which they repeat the declaration
already made in their published note
OF March l TO the effect that in fur
nlshlng a reason for their action in
withdrawing the exequatur Of the
United States consul they were not
inviting discussion of the grounds
on which their decision was taken.
nut were merely complying with the
terms Of article 4 Of the commercial
convention between Great Britain
and the United States Of july 3. 1915
which provides that the offended
government shall assign 10 the other
government it's reasons for SENDING
pack a consular officer
Giving Note TO Press,
In order that the procedure fol-
owed by his majesty's government in
ihis matter may be the better under
stood. the British foreign office are
communicating 10 the press a note
addressed on December q last To the
American charge d'affaires in London.
the reply to which has already been
published by the State Department
The American correspondencc
which is voluminous. and Includes
speclnc instructions sent to all Afneri-
can consular agents under a date of
December 30. was accompanied by the
following official American SUMMARY
of the situation:
State Departments Position.
The Department Of State has taken
the position that since the British
government has charged the Ameri-
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