Recognition of nationalistic aspirations of Czecho-Slovaks and Jugo-Slavs, May 31, 1918.1 (Official United States Bulletin No. 323, p. 2.) The Secretary of State desires to announce that the proceedings of the Congress of Oppressed Races of Austria-Hungary, which was held in Rome in April, have been followed with great interest by the Government of the United States, and that the nationalistic aspirations of the Czecho-Slovaks and Jugo-Slavs for freedom have the earnest sympathy of this Government. Recognition of belligerency of Czecho-Slovaks, September 3, 1918.3 (Official United States Bulletin No. 402, p. 1.) The Secretary of State makes the following announcement: The Czecho-Slovak peoples having taken up arms against the German and Austro-Hungarian Empires and having placed organized armies in the field which are waging war against those Empires under officers of their own nationality and in accordance with the rules and practices of civilized nations; and The Czecho-Slovaks having, in prosecution of their independent purposes in the present war, confided supreme political authority to the Czecho-Slovak National Council, The Government of the United States recognizes that a state of belligerency exists between the Czecho-Slovaks thus organized and the German and Austro-Hungarian Empires. It also recognizes the Czecho-Slovak National Council as a de facto belligerent Government, clothed with proper authority to direct the military and political affairs of the Czecho-Slovaks. The Government of the United States further declares that it is prepared to enter formally into relations with the de facto Government thus recognized for the purpose of prosecuting the war against the common enemy, the Empires of Germany and Austro-Hungary. Demand for Austro-Hungarian recognition of independence of CzechoSlovaks and Jugo-Slavs, October 18, 1918.* [Official United States Bulletin, No. 441, p. 2.] From the Secretary of State to the Minister of Sweden. DEPARTMENT OF STATE, SIR: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your note of the 7th instant, in which you transmit a communication from the Imperial Royal Government of Austria-Hungary to the President. I am 1 Adhesion by Allied Supreme War Council June 4, 1918, supra, p. 98. Supra, p. 107. & Recognition by France, June 30, 1918, supra, p. 49; Great Britain, Aug. 13, 1918, supra, p. 99. Japan accorded recognition Sept. 9, 1918. Cuba recognized the belligerency of the Czecho-Slovaks by presidential decree Nov. 5, 1918. 4 Austrian reply, supra, p. 13. 116506-19- -14 now instructed by the President to request you to be good enough, through your Government, to convey to the Imperial and Royal Government the following reply: "The President deems it his duty to say to the Austro-Hungariam Government that he can not entertain the present suggestions of that Government because of certain events of utmost importance which, occurring since the delivery of his address of the 8th of January last, have necessarily altered the attitude and responsibility of the Govern-- ́ ment of the United States. 66 Among the 14 terms of peace which the President formulated at that time occurred the following: “10. The peoples of Austria-Hungary, whose place among the nations we wish to see safeguarded and assured, should be accorded the freest opportunity of autonomous development. "Since that sentence was written and uttered to the Congress of the United States the Government of the United States has recognized that a state of belligerency exists between the Czecho-Slovaks and the German and Austro-Hungarian Empires and that the Czecho-Slovaks national council is a de facto belligerent government clothed with proper authority to direct the military and political affairs of the Czecho-Slovaks. "It has also recognized in the fullest manner the justice of the nationalistic aspirations of the Jugo-Slavs for freedom. "The President is, therefore, no longer at liberty to accept a mere 'autonomy' of these peoples as a basis of peace, but is obliged to insist that they, and not he, shall be the judges of what action on the part of the Austro-Hungarian Government will satisfy their aspirations and their conception of their rights and destiny as members of the family of nations." Accept, sir, the renewed assurances of my highest consideration. ROBERT LANSING.. Note recognizing belligerency of Polish Army, November 2, 1918. Mr. ROMAN DMOWSKI, DEPARTMENT OF STATE, November 2, 1918. President Polish National Committee, The Washington Hotel, Washington, D. C. SIR: I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letters of October 18 and October 25 requesting the Government of the United States to associate itself with the Governments of France and Great Britain by recognizing the Polish Army, under the supreme political authority of the Polish National Committee, as autonomous, allied, and co-belligerent. In reply I beg to inform you that the Government of the United States has not been unmindful of the zeal and tenacity with which the Polish National Committee has prosecuted the task of marshaling its fellow countrymen in a supreme military effort to free Poland from its present oppressors. This Government's position with respect to the Polish cause and the Polish people could hardly be more clearly defined than was outlined by the President in his address before the Congress of January 8, 1918. Therefore, feeling as it does a deep sympathy for the Polish people and viewing with gratification the progress of the Polish cause, this Government experiences a feeling of genuine satisfaction in being able to comply with your request by recognizing the Polish Army, under the supreme political authority of the Polish National Committee, as autonomous and co-belligerent. I am, sir, your obedient servant, (Signed) ROBERT LANSING. Note informing Germany of terms on which Armistice may be concluded, November 5, 1919. [Official United States Bulletin, No. 456, p. 1.] Mr. Lansing, Secretary of State to Mr. Sulzer, Swiss Minister in Charge of German interests in the United States. DEPARTMENT OF STATE, SIR: I have the honor to request you to transmit the following communication to the German Government: "In my note of October 23, 1918, I advised you that the President had transmitted his correspondence with the German authorities to the governments with which the Government of the United States is associated as a belligerent, with the suggestion that if those governments were disposed to effect peace upon the terms and principles indicated, their military advisers and the military advisers of the United States be asked to submit to the governments associated against Germany the necessary terms of such an armistice as would fully protect the interests of the peoples involved and ensure to the associated governments the unrestricted power to safeguard and enforce the details of the peace to which the German Government had agreed, provided they deemed such an armistice possible from the military point of view. “The President is now in receipt of a memorandum of observations by the Allied Governments on this correspondence, which is as follows: "The Allied Governments have given careful consideration to the correspondence which has passed between the President of the United States and the German Government. Subject to the qualifications which follow they declare their willingness to make peace with the Government of Germany on the terms of peace laid down in the President's address to Congress of January, 1918, and the principles of settlement enunciated in his subsequent addresses. They must point out, however, that clause two relating to what is usually described as the freedom of the seas, is open to various interpretations, some of which they could not accept. They must, therefore, reserve to themselves complete freedom on this subject when they enter the peace conference. "Further, in the conditions of peace, laid down in his address to Congress of January 8, 1918, the President declared that invaded territories must be restored as well as evacuated and freed. The Allied Governments feel that no doubt ought to be allowed to exist as to what this provision implies. By it they understand that compensation will be made by Germany for all damages done to the civilian population of the Allies and their property by the aggression of Germany by land, by sea, and from the air. "I am instructed by the President to say that he is in agreement with the interpretation set forth in the last paragraph of the memorandum above quoted. I am further instructed by the President to request you to notify the German Government that Marshal Foch has been authorized by the Government of the United States and the Allied Governments to receive properly accredited representatives of the German Government, and to communicate to them terms of an armistice." Accept, sir, the renewed assurances of my highest consideration. ROBERT LANSING. Mr. HANS SULzer, Minister of Switzerland, in charge of German interests in the United Nole recognizing the provisional government of Poland, January 30, 1919. [Official United States Bulletin, Jan. 30, 1919, p. 1.] Secretary of State Lansing to Ignace Paderewski. The President of the United States directs me to extend to you as Prime Minister and Secretary for Foreign Affairs of the Provisional Polish Government his sincere wishes for your success in the high office which you have assumed and his earnest hope that the Government of which you are a part will bring prosperity to the Republic of Poland. It is my privilege to extend to you at this time my personal greetings and officially to assure you that it will be a source of gratification to enter into official relations with you at the earliest opportunity to render to your country such aid as is possible at this time as it enters upon a new cycle of independent life, will be in full accord with that spirit of friendliness which has in the past animated the American people in their relations with your countrymen. URUGUAY. Decree requiring radiotelegraphy on vessels, January 13, 1912. Considering that wireless telegraphy presents for navigation not only a useful service, but principally a medium for aid of great importance in cases of accident, etc., it is decreed: ARTICLE I.-After May 1, 1912, all vessels carrying passengers between the ports of the Republic and foreign ports, shall be equipped with radiotelegraphic installations. ART. II. Such installations shall be of sufficient strength to receive and transmit messages for a distance of at least 62 miles on river vessels, and 248.5 miles on ocean-going vessels. ART. III. The installations shall be kept in good working order, for communicating with stations in the Republic. ART. IV. The stations shall be in charge of persons competent to operate radiotelegraphic apparatus. ART. V. The service of the stations shall conform, in every respect, to the conditions established at the Berlin International Radiotelegraphic Convention. ART. VI.-Prior to the decree becoming operative, agents of shipping companies shall inform the inspection general of wireless telegraph national service the characteristics, system, power, etc., of the wireless apparatus installed on vessels owned by the companies they represent. ART. VII.—After this decree becomes operative, vessels which have not complied with its provisions shall not be granted dispatch to carry passengers in the ports of Uruguay. ART. VIII.—A similar penalty shall be applied to vessels not keeping their radiotelegraphic apparatus in proper order. ART. IX. The inspection general of the wireless telegraph national service is charged with enforcing this decree. ART. X.-Let this be communicated to interested parties, and published, etc. MONTEVIDEO, January 8, 1912. BATTLE Y ORDONEZ. FREDERIC W. GODING, Consul. MONTEVIDEO, URUGUAY, January 13, 1912. Decree requisitioning German vessels, September 14, 1917. MONTEVIDEO, September 14, 1917. DEPARTMENT FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS, WAR DEPARTMENT AND NAVY DEPARTMENT. Considering that rumors have reached the executive power that some of the German ships anchored in the port of Montevideo were to be sunk, an event, which if allowed to take place would seriously damage the service of the port; Considering that it is the duty of the executive power to safeguard the interests of his country and avoid such an event by taking the necessary police measures of a preventive character, as dictated by motives of public safety; Considering that such a step should not be construed as an aggression against the nation to whom the said ships pertain; The President of the Republic decrees: 1. The captain of ports will place an armed guard on all interned German ships, in order to prevent any prejudicial acts being committed either against the ships or against the port of Montevideo. 2. This decree to be communicated and published. |