Evening star., 1923-03-09

| action Is to be taken by your govern
| ment because the American consulate
| At Newcastle has been at
tempting to divert passengers from
British to American lines by making
| difficulties for the Issue of visas for
| the United States 10 passengers not
| travelling by American lines and, fur
| ther. by limiting that inconvenience is
| likely to be encountered In the United
States unless the passengers travel
| by American lines"
1t was further shown that actual
cancellation had been deferred by the
British foreign Office until August Is
"fn the belief that this government
the United States) may prefer to re-
move these officers Of it's own accord
The American note added that Sec
retary Hughes had caused an In
vestigation TO be made which did
not appear to substantiate the allie
cations"
The note also requested that "spe-
cifIc evidence to support the allega-
tions" be presented and an oppor-
tunity afforded the United states to
present its Views ''in the light Of
such evidence"
Consuls Deny Amdavits.
The next communication. a tele-
gram to the American embassy, dated
september is and signed by Acting
Secretary Phillips, directed that Lord
Curzon be informed that Slater and
Brooks have categorically denied
the truth Of the affidavits inclosed
with the last note of the foreign
office" and stated that Consuf Cen
eral Nelson T. johnson would reach
England about September 25 to con-
duct a searching investigation of
the Newcastle affair" In which CO.
operation OF the British government
was asked.
The next communication Is a note
OF November 8. handed to Lord
Curzon by Ambassador Harvey, In
reply to an unpublished British note
Of October 10.
MY government" it said. has
noted that the British government
expresses its Willingness to drop the
charges against the American con-
sular officers formerly at New castle
on-Tyne. on the understanding that
the United States will reopeS the
consulate with the least possible
delay.
United States Not Satisfied.
The government OF the United
States has consistently maintained
the position that the eXequatur of
Mr.. Slater and the recognition of Mr..
Brooks were withdrawn as the re-
suit of specific charges of wrong
doing and that, as the action of the
Of the charges were made public.
thus injuring the officers and i'm
putting to the American foreign Serv-
ice practices never authorized. IL
was incumbent upon my government
TO satisfy itself with regard TO the
facts. 1t has been desirous
Of completely establishing the guilt
or innocence of the two officers and
Of disposing of the incident upon its
merits"
Ambassador Harveys note then
pointed out that two separate in
quiries had been made. affidavits sub
mittcd by the British government eX-
amined and opportunity given that
government to furnish additional
data. and that all these proceedings
have failed to bring to light evil
dence to sustain charge of any
wrongful acts" The British govern
ment was asked frankly and uncon
ditionally to withdraw the serious
charges Inadvertently made and pub
licly 10 announce the reasons for the
action as was done when the ex-
equatur OF Mr. Slater was cancelled
and the recognition of Mr.. Brooks
was withdrawn.
Mere Dropping Unacceptable.
Mere dropping Of the charges was
said not TO be an acceptable solution
to the American government. but It
was added that the United States was
ready to accept the proposal that the
charges be dropped and the consulate
be reopened if the British govern
ment will agree to grant an exequa-
tur to Mr.. Slater and the recognition
to Mr.. Brooks as consul and vice con-
sui. respectively, at Newcastle, and to
the simultaneous issue at the two
capitals of an announcement, in a
form satisfactory to both govern
ments, of the action taken and the
reasons therefor
The British note OF December 81
made public by the embassy is in re-
ply TO this commun ication. 1t asserts
that the original notification of July
t8 was intended. as a friendly hint
to the United States government to
transfer those officials Cat the New
castle consulate) to other posts, since
they were no longer personae gratae
to his majesty's government" and
that the month delay in cancellation
of the exequatur was granted for
that purpose.
Desired to Avoid Publicity.
THE purpose OF this action" the
British note continued. was precisely
to avoid that publicity which Mr..
Harvey appears to deplore in the
second and fourth paragraphs OF his
note. for which his maJestys govern