The Secretary of State to Ambassador Reid.
Washington, April 15, 1910.
Mr. Knox instructs Mr. Reid to inform the foreign office that the department accepts both projects and procedure recommended by the Paris conference to modify the prize court and to establish a court of arbitral justice; that while the department prefers the consent of 15 instead of 18 to establish the arbitral court and regards consent of 15 as giving sufficient international character to the proposed court, it nevertheless defers to the judgment of its associates and accepts the arbitral court project as recommended by the Paris conference without modification or reserve.
Mr. Knox says that the acceptance of Germany of both projects and procedure has been received but the department anxiously awaits the approval of France in order to give necessary instructions to the American minister at the Hague. Mr. Knox adds that upon acceptance by France the necessary instructions will be given in the form agreed upon by the conference.