CONSULAR OFFICIALS.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIV, Issue 645, 2 March 1923, Page 5

CONSULAR OFFICIALS.

WITHDRAWAL OF RECOGNITION* PROTEST BY UNITED STATES. I - - By Electric Telegraph—Copyright. WASHINGTON, Feb. 2s. The State Department has published the text of the Note to Britain regarding the consular officials at Newcastle, The Note states that the Newcastle Consulate confirms the informal intimations previously conveyed. The Note further points out that the United States has never questioned ' Britain’s right to cancel the exequatur of any American consul on the ground that ho is persona non grata, but where specific charges are advanced these must be substantiated. The United States calls into question the parallel Britain drew between this case and the United States’ cancellation of British Consul’s exequaturs at Philadelphia, New York and Cincinnati in 1858 on tlfe grounds of illegal recruiting. Judicial proceedings brought against these later showed them to be guilty of violations of the law. Mr Hughes has also issued an cx-i planatory statement that Britain, in January, 1922, asked the United States voluntarily to withdraw Messrs Brooks and Slater on the ground that they were attempting, by unfair means, tq induce passengers to travel by American boats. The United States invests gated the matters and found that the charges were not true and refused t<j withdraw them.—A. and N.Z. cable.

PROPOSALS THAT WERE DECLINED. BRITAIN’S ATTITUDE UNCHANGED. Received March 2, 9.45 a.m, LONDON, March 1. The Note from the United States _ regarding the expulsion of the American Consuls from .Newcastle adds: “Britain was further asked to submit evidence in support of the charges, but declined to da so, and withdrew the Consuls’ exequators, The State Department, in view of tha serious charges made, and their bearing upon the proper attitude of the America)! consular service in relationship to tha an investigator to England, who proved conclusively that the Consuls could not) justly be hold guilty. The British Government meanwhile sent a Note to the United States suggesting that the two Governments send identical instructions to their Consuls regarding tha assistance to lie rendered to the merchant marines of the two countries, and offering to drop its charges against Messrs Brooks and Slates without prejudice on condition that the Consulate at Newcastle be reopened immediately. The United States declined to accept these proposals, replying that the charges against the Consuls brought into question the good faith of the American foreign service. The United States suggested that Britain should frankly withdraw the charges publicly. The United States further proposed, as an alternative.* to’ reopen the Consulate if Britain would restore the exequators of Messrs Slater and Brooks, making a public announcement tha reasons for this. The United States pointed our that it wished to have the Newcastle incident settled first and then would be glad to discuss with Britain the conclusion of a consular convention. “Britain declined to change the original position, reiterating that the information upon which she acted was accurate and adequate. The United States in the last Note handed to the British Government to-day declares that the Consulate will not be reopened and that orders have been issued to dispose of the lease of the Consular premises—A. and N.Z. cable.