711.4115A/60
Memorandum of a Conference Held at 4 P.M., July 31, 1929, Regarding the Turtle Islands Boundary Negotiations
- Present:
- Mr. J. A. Metzger,
- Mr. J. K. Caldwell
- Mr. T. A. Shone, First Secretary of the British Embassy,
- Mr. F. W. Fraser.
Mr. Shone submitted certain changes which he proposed be made in the American draft treaty, and also submitted a draft of the proposed British note providing for the continued administration of the Turtle and Mangsi Islands by the British North Borneo Company. After some discussion, it was mutually agreed that certain changes be made in the drafts submitted by Mr. Shone and that the treaty and the note in the form finally agreed upon be typed up as soon as possible, in the Department of State, and that copies would be sent to Mr. Shone for submission to the British Ambassador. It was also agreed that copies would be submitted to General McIntyre and to the Secretary and that a final meeting of the British and American representatives should take place on Friday, August 2, at 10:00 o’clock.
Mr. Shone also requested that he be given a copy of pages 4 and 5 of the memorandum of the Geographer of the Department, dated July 26, 1929,80 dealing with possible changes which might be necessitated by subsequent more accurate surveys, in order that he may submit this matter to the British Ambassador for consideration of the advisability of incorporating some such provision in the treaty.
Copies of the treaty and of the British note as redrafted on the meeting on July 31 are attached hereto.81
It was proposed by Mr. Shone that the treaty be completed in final form, so far as the negotiators can do so, at the meeting on Friday morning (tomorrow) August 2nd, after which the British would like to submit the text to the Foreign Office, since there is no urgency about the signing in view of the arrangement that the administration be continued by the British North Borneo Company. Mr. Fraser would return home, and the treaty would be signed later.