ECONOMIC AVIATION COMMERCIAL AVIATION CONVENTION 1 Dominican Republic By a note dated October 13, 1932, the Cuban Chargé d'Affaires ad interim at Washington transmitted to the Secretary of State a communication addressed to him by the Secretary of State of Cuba, by which the latter advised the Government of the United States of the deposit on September 12, 1932, of the instrument of ratification by the Dominican Republic of the convention on commercial aviation, adopted at the Sixth International Conference of American. States, Habana, February, 1928. The convention will become effective for the Dominican Republic 40 days from the date of the deposit of the instrument of ratification. The countries in respect of which the convention is now in force are the United States of America, Guatemala, Mexico, Nicaragua, and Panama. COMMERCE INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION FOR THE LOWERING OF ECONOMIC BARRIERS On July 18, 1932, at Geneva, representatives of Belgium, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands signed a convention for the lowering of economic barriers.2 Identic notes were addressed to the Secretary of State by the three signatory Governments concerning the adherence of the United States of America to the convention. The notes, dated July 28, 1932, from the Chargé d'Affaires ad interim of Luxembourg, and August 8, 1932, from the Belgian Ambassador and the Minister of the Netherlands, read, in translation, as follows: By order of my Government, I have the honor to transmit to Your Excellency herewith a copy of the collective convention signed at Geneva on the 18th of July last by representatives of Belgium, Luxembourg and the Netherlands. This convention has for its purpose the realization of a progressive lowering of economic barriers and the establishment, thus, of greater liberty of commercial exchanges. It is directly inspired by the recommendations which the League of Nations and its competent organs have not ceased to formulate, with which recommendations the majority of governments have associated themselves. The measures taken by the states, acting separately, to protect their national economy from the effects of the crisis, have resulted in a progressive strangulation of international commerce. The gravity of the situation which has resulted therefrom is today apparent to all. The fact is now clearly demonstrated that no nation, by the play of its own forces, can efficaciously remedy the present difficulties. Concerted action is indicated which, by rendering exchanges more free, will permit the revival of commercial activity. Such action could not be effected at the outset between states in general, nor remove at one single time all the obstacles which hinder the development of economic activities. Effort in this direction must be progressive so as to permit the necessary transitions. It must take account, in an equitable measure, of situations of fact, and of the difficulties of the moment. The convention of July 18, 1932, meets these requirements. All nations have the privilege of participating, in perfect equality, in the action which it inaugurates, and of assuring for themselves the advantages provided therein and which are reserved to the contracting states or to those which in fact conform to the provisions of the convention. Furthermore, it results from article 1 that the contracting parties undertake not to adopt any protective measure concerning the merchandise of a third country to which they are bound by commercial conventions, except in cases where they themselves are gravely injured by new measures taken by such country. The Government of the United States, which will recognize the concern for the common interest and the anxiety to ameliorate commercial exchanges which have inspired the signers of the convention, will doubtless desire to join in this work of economic reconstruction and adhere to the act in question. In case circumstances should not permit it to do so at this time,my Government is convinced, it will not find in the accord which governs the exchanges between our two countries, an obstacle to the application of the convention between the signatory parties. The Secretary of State replied to the Belgian Ambassador, and in similar notes to the Minister of the Netherlands and the Chargé d'Affaires of Luxembourg, as follows: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your courteous note of August 8, 1932, with which you enclosed a copy of an agreement in respect of customs matters recently entered into by your Government with Luxembourg and the Netherlands. You suggest that should circumstances not permit the American Government to adhere to this agreement, which you state is open to all countries, this Government will not find in the accord which governs the exchanges between our two countries, an obstacle to the application of the above mentioned convention. The American Government has followed, and will continue to follow, with great interest and sympathy proposals and developments which have as their purpose and aim the sound financial and economic reconstruction of Europe, which will in turn bring on improved financial and economic conditions throughout the world. Whether or not the convention of July 18 would bring about these desired and hoped for results is a matter upon which the American Government has not yet reached a decision. The American Government will, however, give this question further sympathetic consideration. TRADE AGREEMENTS CONCLUDED DURING THE IMPERIAL ECONOMIC CONFERENCE, OTTAWA, 1932 The Imperial Economic Conference opened in Ottawa, on July 21, 1932, and continued until August 20, 1932. Delegates from Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Union of South Africa, Irish Free State, Newfoundland, India, and Southern Rhodesia attended the conference. At the closing session, trade agreements were signed as follows: United Kingdom-Australia United Kingdom-Union of South Africa United Kingdom-India United Kingdom-Newfoundland United Kingdom-Southern Rhodesia United Kingdom-Canada Canada-Irish Free State Canada-Union of South Africa Canada-Southern Rhodesia Union of South Africa-Irish Free State Texts of the agreements signed between Canada and the United Kingdom, the Irish Free State, the Union of South Africa, and Southern Rhodesia, are printed in this bulletin in the section headed "Texts of Treaties and Agreements." The agreements alone are. printed; the attached schedules have not been reproduced here. It is understood that the Department of Commerce has for distribution mimeographed copies of the schedule attached to the agreement between Canada and the United Kingdom and will shortly have others available. The complete texts of the agreements and attached schedules are published by the Canadian Government as annex V to the report of the conference (Imperial Economic Conference, 1932: Report of the Conference: Supplementary Volume. Ottawa, 1932). FINANCE INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE FOR THE UNIFICATION OF LAWS ON BILLS OF EXCHANGE, PROMISSORY NOTES, AND CHEQUES CONVENTIONS OF THE FIRST SESSION OF THE CONFERENCE 3 According to various circular letters received from the League of Nations, dated September 20, 21, and 29, 1932, the following three conventions signed at Geneva, June 7, 1930, have been ratified by Austria, Belgium, Finland, Italy, Japan, and Switzerland: 1. Convention and protocol providing a uniform law for bills of exchange and promissory notes; 2. Convention and protocol for the settlement of certain conflicts of law in connection with bills of exchange and promissory notes; 3. Convention and protocol on the stamp laws in connection with bills of exchange and promissory notes. The instrument of ratification by Austria was deposited on August 31, 1932, and according to the statement made at the time of the deposit, in accordance with the right granted in article I, paragraph 2, of the convention providing a uniform law for bills of exchange and promissory notes, the ratification is given subject to the reservations mentioned in articles 6, 10, 14, 15, 17, and 20 of annex II to the said convention. The instrument of ratification by Belgium was deposited on August 31, 1932, and according to a statement made at the time of the deposit the convention providing for a uniform law for bills of exchange and promissory notes is subject to the utilization of the right provided in articles 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, 10, 11, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, and 20 of annex II of the convention. As regards the Belgian Congo and Ruanda Urundi, the Belgian Government intends to reserve all the rights provided in the annex in question, with the exception of the right mentioned in article 21 of that annex. The ratification by Finland was deposited on August 31, 1932, and as stated in the instrument of ratification the convention providing for a uniform law for bills of exchange and promissory notes is subject to the reservations mentioned in articles 14 and 20 of annex II to the convention, and Finland has availed itself of the right granted to the High Contracting Parties by articles 15, 17, and 18 of the said annex to legislate on the matters referred to therein. The ratification by Italy was deposited on August 31, 1932, and according to a statement made at that time the Italian Government 8 See Bulletin No. 36, September, 1932, p. 7. reserves the right to avail itself of the right provided in articles 2, 8, 10, 13, 15, 16, 17, 19, and 20 of annex II to the convention providing a uniform law for bills of exchange and promissory notes. The ratification by Japan was deposited on August 31, 1932, and as provided in the instrument of ratification the ratification of the convention providing a uniform law for bills of exchange and promissory notes is given subject to the rights referred to in the provisions mentioned in annex II to this convention, in virtue of article 1, paragraph 2. The ratification by Switzerland was deposited on August 26, 1932, and as stated in the instrument of ratification, the convention providing a uniform law for bills of exchange and promissory notes is subject to the reservations mentioned in articles 2, 6, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, and 19 of annex II to the convention. The Federal Councillor further informed the Secretary-General of the League of Nations that the three above-mentioned conventions will take effect only after the adoption of a law revising sections XXIV to XXXIII of the Federal Code of Obligations or, if necessary, of a special law regarding bills of exchange, promissory notes, and cheques. CONVENTIONS OF THE SECOND SESSION OF THE CONFERENCE 4 According to circular letters dated September 20 and 21, 1932, from the League of Nations, the following three conventions, signed at Geneva March 19, 1931, have been ratified by Finland and Switzerland: 1. Convention and protocol providing for a uniform law for cheques; 2. Convention and protocol providing for the settlement of certain conflicts of laws in connection with cheques; 3. Convention and protocol on the stamp laws in connection with cheques. The instrument of ratification by Finland was deposited on August 31, 1932, and as stated in the instrument of ratification the convention providing a uniform law for cheques is subject to the reservations mentioned in articles 4, 6, 9, 14, 1st paragraph, 16 a, 18, and 27 of annex II of the convention, and Finland has availed itself of the right granted to the High Contracting Parties by articles 25, 26, and 29 of the said annex to legislate on the matters referred to therein. The ratification by Switzerland was deposited on August 26, 1932, and as stated in the instrument of ratification the convention pro 'See Bulletin No. 36, September, 1932, p. 8. |