123 S1 1/94: Telegram
The Acting Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Great Britain (Harvey)
292. Your Despatch Number 1660, August 30, Newcastle case.
Please inform Lord Curzon with reference to his note of August 28th,37 that since Slater and Brooks have categorically denied the truth of the affidavits enclosed with the last note from the Foreign Office, Consul General Nelson T. Johnson will arrive in England about September 25th, as the Department’s representative, to conduct a searching investigation of the Newcastle affair; that this Government considers it important to go to the bottom of this matter now, so that future misunderstandings may be avoided; that to this end the Department has selected Mr. Johnson, who has been attached to the Department for the past 4 years, to review evidence on the ground and to submit a report on his findings to the Secretary of State and to the President.
Please express to Lord Curzon this Government’s hope that the British Government will cooperate in this investigation and will lay frankly before Mr. Johnson all the evidence upon which it was led to take its action. Announcement of Mr. Johnson’s mission has been made here.
Full cooperation of Embassy and Consulate General requested. Johnson carries personal letter to you.37