MY DEAR MR. MCKINNON WOOD: GENEVA, January 23, 1934. I desire to acknowledge with appreciation your letter of January 22, 1934, in which, in line with our conversations, you set forth the position of the League of Nations with regard to the registration by the Secretariat and the publication in the "League of Nations Treaty Series" of international instruments concluded by the United States which shall be furnished by the Government of the United States for this purpose. My understanding of the League's position in this respect is as follows: (a) Such registration will not involve acquiescence by the United States in the stipulation of article 18 of the Covenant of the League of Nations that no instrument shall be binding until registration. (b) Such registration would result in publication of treaties and Executive agreements between the United States and members of the League and likewise those between the United States and other states not members of the League in the "League of Nations Treaty Series", in the same category and with the same promptitude as treaties registered by the member states. (c) Such registration will result in the elimination of the delay in publication of instruments which may hitherto have been caused by the suspension of publication of treaties sent to the Secretariat by the United States until appropriate notification had been made to the interested member states. (d) Such registration will not involve an obligation on the part of the United States to pay any charges or expenses. With regard to points (b) and (c) above, my understanding of the arrangement envisaged is that upon the United States requesting the registration of a treaty, such registration will be effected at once and the treaty published in the same manner as though it had been presented by a member state; it is, however, entirely clear that inasmuch as registered treaties are published in the order of registration, the exact date at which a treaty appears in the "Treaty Series" necessarily depends on the progress made in producing the series. I further understand that in cases of this character a simple acknowledgment of the request for registration, and not a formal certificate of registration, is addressed by the Secretariat to the government presenting a treaty for registration, in view of the fact that the registration is not legally obligatory. I take pleasure in informing you that my Government will be glad, in accordance with the memorandum approved by the Council of the League on May 19, 1920, and in accordance with the understandings expressed in your letter which I have recapitulated above, to furnish the Secretariat through the American Minister at Bern for the purpose of registration and publication a certified copy of each international agreement to which the United States shall hereafter become a party. I am, my dear Mr. McKinnon Wood, yours very sincerely, PRENTISS GILBERT 39268-34 3 PAN AMERICAN UNION SEVENTH INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE OF AMERICAN STATES The Seventh International Conference of American States was held in Montevideo, Uruguay, from December 3 to 26, 1933. The numerous topics of the program covered a wide and varied field. In all, 95 resolutions were approved during the course of the Conference of which a few selected ones have been reprinted in this Bulletin. On the closing day the Conference adopted the following agreements: Convention on the nationality of women 12 Convention on nationality Convention on extradition 13 Convention on rights and duties of states Convention on the teaching of history Additional protocol of the general convention of inter-American conciliation 14 Definite information regarding the signature of these agreements is not available at present but as notifications of the signature and ratification of these conventions are received they will be published in subsequent issues of this Bulletin. Texts of the resolutions and conventions are printed in the Final Act of the Conference and will also be printed in the Report of the Delegation of the United States. Delegates from twenty American Republics attended the Conference, namely, the United States of America, Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay, and Venezuela. RENUNCIATION OF WAR TREATY FOR THE RENUNCIATION OF WAR The governments represented at the Seventh International Conference of American States approved, on December 16, 1933, a resolution concerning the adherence to and ratification of peace instruments.15 This resolution specifies five treaties for the promotion of peace, including the treaty for the renunciation of war, signed at Paris August 27, 1928. Those governments which have not yet adhered to this treaty, signify by their approval of the resolution their intention to do so. 12 For text, see p. 34. 13 For text, see p. 35. 14 For text, see p. 33. 15 See p. 2. The countries which have yet to complete their adherence to this treaty, which is known as the "Kellogg-Briand Pact" or the "Pact of Paris ", are Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, El Salvador, and Uruguay. ANTI-WAR PACT OF OCTOBER 10, 1933 The anti-war pact of October 10, 1933, is one of the treaties mentioned in the resolution above referred to, which the governments represented at the Seventh International Conference of American. States signify their intention to ratify at an early date. Italy By a despatch dated December 12, 1933, the American Embassy at Buenos Aires reported that the Italian Ambassador to Argentina had informed the Argentine Government that Italy would adhere to the anti-war pact of October 10, 1933.16 RESTRICTION OF WAR CONVENTION FOR THE AMELIORATION OF THE CONDITION OF THE WOUNDED AND SICK OF ARMIES IN THE FIELD 17 Spain In accordance with the provisions of article 10 of the convention for the amelioration of the condition of the wounded and sick of armies in the field, signed July 27, 1929, which provide that governments shall mutually notify to each other the names of the societies that have been authorized to render assistance to the regular medical service of their armed forces, the Spanish Ambassador at Washington informed the Secretary of State by a note dated January 8, 1934, that the Spanish Red Cross had been so designated by his Government. HUMANITARIAN ASYLUM CONVENTION ON POLITICAL ASYLUM The Seventh International Conference of American States adopted on December 26, 1933, a convention on political asylum. The delegates of the United States were not instructed to sign this convention.1 EXTRADITION CONVENTION ON EXTRADITION On December 26, 1933, the Seventh International Conference of American States adopted a convention on extradition. The delegates of the United States were instructed to sign this convention with reservations.1 NATIONALITY CONVENTION ON THE NATIONALITY OF WOMEN On December 26, 1933, the Seventh International Conference of American States adopted a convention on the nationality of women. The text of this convention is printed in the section of this Bulletin headed "Texts of Treaties and Agreements." The delegates of the United States were instructed to sign this convention with reservations.1 CONVENTION ON NATIONALITY The Seventh International Conference of American States adopted on December 26, 1933, a convention on nationality the text of which is printed in the section of this Bulletin headed "Texts of Treaties and Agreements." The delegates of the United States were not instructed to sign this convention.1 'See p. 14. 16 REFUGEES CONVENTION RELATING TO THE INTERNATIONAL STATUS OF REFUGEES The Inter-Governmental Conference for Refugees, convened by the League of Nations, met at Geneva October 26-28, 1933, and adopted on October 28 a convention relating to the international status of refugees. The convention will remain open for signature until April 15, 1934, after which date it may be acceded to by any member of the League of Nations or any nonmember state to which the Council of the League shall transmit a copy of the convention for that purpose. The convention is applicable to Russian, Armenian, and assimilated refugees as defined by the arrangements of May 12, 1926, and June 30, 1928.3 The objects of the convention are to insure to refugees the enjoyment of civil rights, free and ready access to the courts, security and stability as regards establishment and work, facilities in the exercise of the professions, of industry, and of commerce, and in regard to the movement of persons, and admission to schools and universities. The final act of the conference was signed by Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, China, Czechoslovakia, Estonia, Finland, France, Greece, Latvia, Poland, Rumania, Switzerland, and Yugoslavia. |