The notifications of the adherences of the Government of Monaco were received by the Belgian Government on May 15, 1931, and they will become effective on November 15, 1931, in accordance with the respective provisions of the conventions, which provide that they shall take effect six months after the notifications of adherences have been received by the Belgian Government. POSTAL UNIVERSAL POSTAL CONVENTION Syria and the Lebanon The following letter 19 was received by the Secretary of State from the Minister of Switzerland in Washington concerning the adherence of Syria and the Lebanon to the universal postal convention: MR. SECRETARY OF STATE: June 2, 1931. Having received from the Embassy of France a request for adhesion to the universal postal convention formulated by the Government of the Republic in the name and on behalf of Syria and the Lebanon, the Federal Authority did not fail to examine the questions raised by this request in collaboration with the Bureau of the International Postal Union. The conclusions resulting from this examination led the Federal Council to invite the attention of the French Government as a preliminary step to the following points: Syria and the Lebanon having belonged, since 1923, to the Postal Union, as being "attached to France itself" as a mandatory power, and that by virtue of a declaration made at that time by the Government of the Republic, it seemed necessary to interpret the new notification of adhesion as a request tending to bring about the admission of Syria and the Lebanon as members of the Union distinct from France, by grouping them in the enumeration of article 8 of the postal convention. Now, at the postal congress of Stockholm of 1924, the French delegation had already made a proposal to that effect, a proposal which was withdrawn in view of the opposition which developed within the Assembly, to the granting of new colonial votes. This proposal was not renewed at the last postal congress held at London in 1929. Consequently it appeared necessary that the request submitted by the French Government in a form which must result in modifying the situation authorized by the conventions of Stockholm and London be treated in accordance with the procedure established in articles 18 to 22 of those international acts. In reply to these observations, the Embassy of France then pointed out, in a note dated March 11 last, that the Government of the Republic, since putting into effect the new constitutional statute of the states of the Syrian mandate, had been led to modify the policy which consisted in securing the admission of those countries under a new number to the enumeration of article 8 of the universal postal convention. In fact, under the organic law drawn up in conformity with article 1 of the mandate for those territories, a law which went into effect in May, 1930, and was communicated to the Council of the League of Nations, Syria and the Lebanon must, henceforth, in the opinion of the French Government be considered as states enjoying international legal personality, which involves the application of article 2 of the universal postal convention. In view of the tenor of that declaration, I have the honor to advise you that the French Government, acting under the powers granted to it by the acts determining the international situation of Syria and the Lebanon, adheres in the name and on behalf of each of these two countries, to the universal postal convention, signed at London on June 28, 1929, as well as to the agreements concerning letters and boxes with declared value, money orders, and parcel post, also signed at London on the same date. In admitting Syria and the Lebanon to participation in the expenses of the Bureau of the International Postal Union, they will be placed in class VII. I would appreciate it if you would give me a formal acknowledgment of this notification. Please accept [etc.] MARC PETER Minister of Switzerland. RADIO INTERNATIONAL RADIOTELEGRAPH CONVENTION 20 British dependencies By a note dated June 17, 1931, received at the Department of State on June 20, 1931, the British Ambassador at Washington informed the Secretary of State that the adherence of the British colonies, protectorates, and mandated territories, received August 15, 1930, to the international radiotelegraph convention, signed at Washington, November 25, 1927, includes also adherence to the general and supplementary regulations signed at the same time as the convention. Latvia The American Minister to Latvia forwarded to the Secretary of State on May 26, 1931, a copy of the Valdibas Vestnesés, No. 112, of May 22, 1931, in which is published the law providing for the ratification by Latvia of the international radiotelegraph convention and the general and supplementary regulations, signed at Washington, November 25, 1927. STATISTICS INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION AND PROTOCOL RELATING TO ECONOMIC STATISTICS India The following letter from the Acting Legal Adviser of the League of Nations, dated June 2, 1931, regarding the accession of India to the international convention relating to economic statistics and protocol was received by the Secretary of State on June 19, 1931: SIR: I have the honour to inform you that His Britannic Majesty's Secretary of State for India has notified to me the accession of His Majesty in respect of India to the international convention relating to economic statistics and protocol, signed at Geneva on December 14, 1928, in accordance with the provisions of article 13 of the convention. This accession is subject to the following reservations which have been accepted by the contracting parties to whom they were communicated in accordance with the terms of article 17 of the convention: A. Under the terms of article 11 the obligations of the convention shall not extend to the territories in India of any Prince or Chief under the suzerainty of His Majesty the King Emperor. B. (1) Article 2(1)(a). The provisions for returns of "transit trade" made in annex 1, part 1., 1 (b) shall not apply to India nor shall returns of the "land frontier trade" of India be acquired. (2) Article 2.II (a). The question whether a general census of agriculture can be held in India and if so, on what lines and at what intervals still remains to be settled. For the present India can assume no obligations under this article. (3) Article 2.III (b) (1). For farms in the "permanently settled" tracts in India, estimates of the cultivated areas may be used in compiling the returns. (4) Article 2.III(b)(2). The returns of quantities of crops harvested may be based on estimates of yield each year per unit area in each locality. (5) Article 2.III (d). Complete returns cannot be guaranteed from Burma and in respect of the rest of India, the returns shall refer to Government forests only. The accession of India was registered with the Secretariat of the League of Nations on May 15, 1931. I have the honour to be, Sir, Your obedient servant. ACCEPTANCE OF RESERVATION MADE BY AUSTRALIA WHEN ADHERING TO THE CONVENTION 21 Union of South Africa According to a circular letter dated May 1, 1931, from the League of Nations, the Government of the Union of South Africa has informed the Secretary-General of the League of Nations that it has no objections to reservations made by Australia when adhering to the international convention relating to economic statistics, signed at Geneva, December 14, 1928. ACCEPTANCE OF RESERVATIONS MADE BY GREAT BRITAIN IN RESPECT OF THE COLONY OF SOUTHERN RHODESIA 22 Denmark By a letter dated May 18, 1931, the Secretary-General of the League of Nations informed the Secretary of State that the Danish Government had notified him by a communication of May 5, 1931, that it had no objections to make regarding the reservations which the Government of Great Britain made in respect of the colony of Southern Rhodesia, in acceding to the convention relating to economic statistics. Irish Free State By a letter dated April 24, 1931, the Secretary-General of the League of Nations also informed the Secretary of State that the Government of the Irish Free State had no objections to the reservations in respect of Southern Rhodesia. "See Bulletin No. 20, May, 1931, p. 11. TEXTS OF CONVENTIONS [The publication of texts hereunder does not imply that the United States is, contemplates becoming, or is eligible to become a party.] INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION FOR THE UNIFICATION OF CERTAIN RULES RELATING TO COLLISIONS AT SEA1 (Signed at Brussels, September 23, 1910) [Translation] His Majesty the King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and of the British Dominions beyond the Seas, Emperor of India; His Majesty the German Emperor, King of Prussia, in the name of the German Empire; the President of the Argentine Republic; His Majesty the Emperor of Austria, King of Bohemia, &c., and Apostolic King of Hungary, for Austria and Hungary; His Majesty the King of the Belgians; the President of the United States of Brazil; the President of the Republic of Chile; the President of the Republic of Cuba; His Majesty the King of Denmark; His Majesty the King of Spain; the President of the United States of America; the President of the French Republic; His Majesty the King of the Hellenes; His Majesty the King of Italy; His Majesty the Emperor of Japan; the President of the United States of Mexico; the President of the Republic of Nicaragua; His Majesty the King of Norway; Her Majesty the Queen of the Netherlands; His Majesty the King of Portugal and the Algarves; His Majesty the King of Roumania; His Majesty the Emperor of All the Russias; His Majesty the King of Sweden; the President of the Republic of Uruguay; Having recognized the desirability of determining by mutual agreement certain uniform rules of law with respect to collisions, have decided to conclude a convention to that end, and have appointed as their plenipotentiaries, that is to say: His Majesty the King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and His Excellency Sir Arthur Hardinge, K.C.B., K.C.M.G., His 1 See Bulletin No. 18, March, 1931, pp. 16-17. |