760j.6715/40

The Secretary of State to the British Ambassador (Geddes)

Excellency: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your note No. 491 of August 6th, inquiring whether the President’s decision as to the boundaries of Armenia may be expected in the near future.

The collection of pertinent data on this subject, and the examination and verification of various records, historical and cartographical, is a preliminary to the consideration of the main question which, as you are of course aware, requires ample time. This work is in progress.

Our impression has been that as Article 89, Section VI, of the Treaty of Peace with Turkey provides that “Turkey and Armenia as well as the other High Contracting Parties, agree to submit to the arbitration of the President of the United States, the question [Page 788] of the frontier to be fixed between Turkey and Armenia”, the decision of the President would only follow the notification to him of the signed agreement of the interested parties.

Accept [etc.]

Bainbridge Colby