such additional information as you may consider necessary in support of the interests of the Standard Oil Company of California in this matter, including details of the grants and transfers upon which the company bases its claims to an interest in the rights in question. I am [etc.] CHARLES E. HUGHES 861b.6363/86 The Sinclair Exploration Company to the Secretary of State NEW YORK, October 24, 1923. SIR: The Sinclair Exploration Company, in keeping with their customary policy of informing the Department of State of their foreign activities, wishes to advise that they have recently despatched a party to the Far East under the direction of Mr. J. P. McCulloch with instructions to proceed to the Russian half of the Island of Sahalin, and there commence exploratory work for oil. This work is undertaken in fulfillment of the concessional contract, for the exploration and development of the oil resources of Sahalin, originally entered into between the Sinclair Exploration Company and the Far Eastern Republic, and since ratified in August of this year by the Moscow Government. The entrance of the Far Eastern Republic into the Union of Soviet Republics gave rise to this ratification, the effect of which is that the Moscow Government (S.S.S.R.) takes the place of the F.E.R. in the contract, i.e. assumes the rights and obligations of the latter, vis-à-vis the Sinclair Exploration Company. We have [etc.] SINCLAIR EXPLORATION COMPANY By R. CRANDALL 861b.6363/86 The Secretary of State to the Sinclair Exploration Company WASHINGTON, November 1, 1923. GENTLEMEN: The Department is in receipt of your letter of October 24, 1923, stating that your company has recently despatched a party to the Far East with instructions to proceed to the "Russian half of the Island of Sakhalin, and there commence exploratory work for oil." You add that "this work is undertaken in fulfillment of the concessional contract, for the exploration and development of the oil resources of Sakhalin, originally entered into between the Sinclair Exploration Company and the Far Eastern Republic, and since ratified in August of this year by the Moscow Government." In acknowledging the receipt of your letter this Department refers you to its letter of March 17, 1923. I am [etc.] For the Secretary of State: 861b.6363/88 The Sinclair Exploration Company to the Secretary of State NEW YORK, March 14, 1924. [Received March 15.] SIR: Further to our letter of October 24th 1923, we wish to advise you that the party sent from here on September 27th 1923 by the Sinclair Exploration Company, for the purpose of commencing exploration work for oil in the Russian part of the Island of Sakhalin, left the city of Nickolaevsk on the mainland of Siberia on February 5th of this year and crossed the ice to Post Alexandrovski, the port of entrance to the Island of Sakhalin. We have since received cable reports from this party stating that they were not permitted by the Japanese military authorities in control of this island to do any work and were obliged to leave Post Alexandrovski on February 20th on board an ice-breaker. The party arrived at Otaru, Japan on or about the 1st of March and from that point proceeded to Peking, China. We have [etc.] SINCLAIR EXPLORATION COMPANY By: R. CRANDALL PLEDGE GIVEN TO THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE BY AN AMERICAN OIL CONCESSIONAIRE IN RUSSIA NOT TO INFRINGE UPON THE EXISTING RIGHTS OF AMERICANS OR OTHER FOREIGNERS IN RUSSIA " 861.6363/124a The Secretary of State to the International Barnsdall Corporation WASHINGTON, January 30, 1923. GENTLEMEN: I desire to recall the visit to the Department on October 17, 1922, of Mr. Mason Day and Mr. Loucks, representing, as it "See Foreign Relations, 1922, vol. II, pp. 818 ff. was understood, the Barnsdall Corporation or the International Barnsdall Corporation. Mr. Day and Mr. Loucks explained the general nature of certain business which the International Barnsdall Corporation expected to undertake in the Russian oil fields and asked if the Department objected. They were informed that the Department made no objection to American citizens or corporations doing business in Soviet Russia on their own responsibility and risk, provided that the operations in view did not jeopardize or infringe the vested rights of others. The latter proviso was based upon the necessity of protecting the existing rights of American citizens in Russia, as well as the rights of the citizens of other countries in conformity with a statement made by this Government in July last,30 a copy of which is enclosed. Mr. Day and Mr. Loucks said that it was understood that the Barnsdall Corporation was proceeding on its own risk and responsibility, and Mr. Loucks said, with respect to the second point, that it was not the intention of the Corporation to encroach upon the property rights of others and that, if complaint were made in any particular instance and it was found that the Corporation had unwittingly done so, the operations complained of would be stopped forthwith. The representatives of the Department noted Mr. Loucks' statement and added. a request that it be confirmed in writing. Although it was understood that such a written confirmation was promised, none has been received up to the present. When Mr. Day called at the Department on January 19 last he was again reminded of the matter. In view of the possibility of complaint by other Governments on behalf of their citizens or by citizens of this country who may conceive that your operations in Russia infringe upon their vested rights, it is again suggested that the Department be provided with a written confirmation of the assurance given orally by Mr. Loucks. CHARLES E. HUGHES I am [etc.] 861.6363/126 The Chairman of the Board of Directors of the International Barnsdall Corporation (Robert Law, Jr.) to the Secretary of State NEW YORK, February 1, 1923. DEAR MR. HUGHES: We acknowledge the receipt of your letter of January 30th, 1923, referring to the visit of Mr. Mason Day and Mr. Loucks to Washington, in October, 1922. 20 Statement issued to the press July 20, 1922; see ibid., p. 823, footnote 44. We confirm the statements that were made to you at that time by our Mr. Day, and Mr. Loucks, and reiterate that in the business which this corporation is now undertaking, in the Russian oil fields, it is the intention of this corporation to operate solely lands at all times Government owned, and that this corporation has no intention whatsoever of encroaching upon the property rights of citizens of other countries in Russia. We likewise confirm the statement made by Mr. Loucks at that time, and do hereby agree that, if complaint is made in any particular instance and it is found that this corporation is unwittingly encroaching upon the vested rights of the citizens of other countries in Russia, that the operations complained of will be stopped, until the matter can be satisfactorily adjusted. We feel that such a situation can never arise, as our engineers, who are now on their way to Russia, have had specific instructions to operate only Government lands. Hoping that this assurance covers your requirements, and that you will at all times realize that this corporation will take no steps that will, in any way, interfere with your established policies, we remain, Very truly yours, ROBT. LAW, JR. 861.6363/126 The Secretary of State to the International Barnsdall Corporation WASHINGTON, February 12, 1923. GENTLEMEN: I have received your letter of February 1, 1923, and have been pleased to note the assurances contained therein with regard to your proposed operations in the Russian oil fields. You say that it is not your intention to infringe upon the vested rights of others in these oil fields, and that, if complaint is made in any particular instance and it is found that you are doing so unwittingly, the operations complained of will be stopped "until the matter can be satisfactorily adjusted." This means, I assume, a satisfactory adjustment with the persons whose vested rights are in question. I assume also that in referring to the vested rights of "the citizens of other countries in Russia" it was your intention to include citizens of the United States as well as those of third countries. I should be glad to have you confirm this. I am [etc.] CHARLES E. HUGHES 861.6363/128 The International Barnsdall Corporation to the Secretary of State NEW YORK, February 14, 1923. [Received February 15.] DEAR SIR: We have your letter of February 12th, in relation to operations in the Russian oil fields. Your construction of the letter we wrote you on February 1st, 1923, is correct with this slight modification. If circumstances should arise under the operations, in which we are unwittingly infringing on the vested rights of others, we presume that the only way that the matter can be satisfactorily adjusted is with the persons whose vested rights are in question. If, however, there is any other way that the matter can be adjusted satisfactory to the Department of State of the United States, and such way,-which at present we cannot visualize—, would be an easier way of adjusting the matter, of course we would feel that, under such circumstances, the matter being completely satisfactory to your Department, we could proceed. "Citizens of other countries in Russia" includes citizens of the United States. We remain [etc.] INTERNATIONAL BARNSDALL CORPORATION By ROBT. LAW, JR., Chairman of the Board of Directors DISPLEASURE EXPRESSED BY THE UNITED STATES AT SENTENCES OF DEATH PASSED UPON ROMAN CATHOLIC CLERGY IN RUSSIA "1 861.404/88a: Telegram The Secretary of State to President Harding WASHINGTON, March 28, 1923. 31 The Department is receiving appeals from various Catholic societies in this country to protest against the sentence of death reported by the press to have been passed by the Russian Soviet authorities on Archbishop Zepliak and other ecclesiastics. The Belgian Ambassador has presented a similar appeal from Cardinal Mercier and our Legation at Brussels has telegraphed an urgent message from the Cardinal for you expressing the earnest hope that something can be done to save these persons. There is a press despatch. this morning that execution of sentence has been postponed and this is probably correct. It is doubtful whether any representations 31 Cf. Foreign Relations, 1922, vol. п, pp. 835 ff. |