"The American Ambassador in Paris was subsequently instructed 67 to approach the French Minister of Foreign Affairs and to impress upon him that the Government of the United States, in the interest of a final adjustment of the boundary question, would be glad to learn of the willingness of the French Government to resume and complete the demarkation at an early date. The Ambassador reported the result of his representations in a despatch to the Department of State, dated January 5, 1922,68 and, on the basis of this despatch, the American Minister at Monrovia was instructed by telegraph, January 31, 1922, to suggest to the Liberian Government that the French Government be urged through the French representative at Monrovia to appoint and send a French Boundary Commissioner immediately to join the Liberian Boundary Commissioner to complete the work of delimitation. 69 70 "At that time my Government had reason for believing that such a course would produce the desired result. However, the Liberian Government decided not to act upon this suggestion at that time and in a note, dated March 31, 1922, informed the American Minister that the Liberian Department of State had been advised by the Boundary Commissioner that the best interest of the Republic would not be served by urging the immediate resumption of the delimitation; the Triangulation Control which the Boundary Commissioner had been engaged in establishing had only been completed for about one-half of the length of the Franco-Liberian Frontier; that unless the whole triangulation was put in before the delimitation was resumed the Commissioner would be obliged to depend upon the French data and maps which were not considered wholly reliable; the Department had therefore not yet approached the French Government on this matter; and that if and when any action was taken the Legation would be promptly advised. "It does not appear from the information at the disposal of my Government that any further action has been taken by the Liberian Government since that date toward the renewal of negotiations with the French. "Believing that future troubles can be avoided only through a definitive demarkation of the Franco-Liberian boundary, my Government directs me to suggest that the Liberian Government at this time approach the French Government through the Liberian Legation at Paris with the request that the French Government appoint and send a Boundary Commissioner to Liberia at the earliest possible date to complete the work of delimiting the boundary as defined by existing treaties and agreements. "The American Ambassador in Paris has been informed of the existing situation and will be instructed to support the representations of the Liberian Minister in Paris as soon as my Government has received word that the Liberian representations are in fact being made. "With regard to the reported border troubles and the occupation of disputed territory by French forces, it is suggested that the Liberian Minister in Paris be instructed to make representations to the "December 3, 1921; see Foreign Relations, 1922, vol. I, p. 634. 68 Ibid., p. 635. Ibid., p. 636. TO Ibid., p. 637. French Government with a view to preventing recurrences of the former and to securing a reasonable modus vivendi with respect to the latter pending the definite establishing of the boundary. "In connection with these questions, the American Ambassador at Paris will likewise be instructed to employ his good offices. "Concerning the specific question of the French occupation of Zinta (Zigida), it is felt that a request for its evacuation by the French authorities during the period required for the completion of the demarkation of the boundary would not be unreasonable owing to the long continued occupation and administration of Zinta (Zigida) by the Liberian authorities. Nevertheless, in view of the greater importance of an early delimitation of the boundary, it is not believed that insistence on this point ought to be allowed to imperil the resumption of negotiations between the Liberian and French governments provided that the French Government evinces a desire to proceed immediately with the delimitation. "If the Liberian Government should see fit to act upon the foregoing suggestions, I should be grateful to be informed of the action which it proposes to take in order that my Government may be advised accordingly." With reference to the last paragraph of this note, you should notify the Department by telegraph of any action taken by the Liberian Government in order that appropriate instructions may be sent to the American Ambassador in Paris. A copy of this instruction has been sent to the American Ambassador in Paris for his information. I am [etc.] FRANK B. KELLOGG 126127-40-vol. II-37 LITHUANIA AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND LITHUANIA ACCORDING MUTUAL UNCONDITIONAL MOST-FAVORED-NATION TREATMENT IN CUSTOMS MATTERS, SIGNED DECEMBER 23, 1925 611.60 m 31/13a The Secretary of State to the Lithuanian Minister (Bizauskas) WASHINGTON, December 23, 1925. 1 SIR: I have the honor to make the following statement of my understanding of the agreement reached through recent conversations held at Washington on behalf of the Government of the United States and the Government of Lithuania with reference to the treatment which the United States shall accord to the commerce of Lithuania and which Lithuania shall accord to the commerce of the United States. These conversations have disclosed a mutual understanding between the two Governments which is that, in respect of import and export duties and other duties and charges affecting commerce, as well as in respect of transit, warehousing and other facilities, and the treatment of commercial travelers' samples, the United States will accord to Lithuania, and Lithuania will accord to the United States, its territories and possessions, unconditional most-favored-nation treatment; and that in the matter of licensing or prohibitions of imports and exports, each country, so far as it at any time maintains such a system, will accord to the commerce of the other treatment as favorable, with respect to commodities, valuations and quantities, as may be accorded to the commerce of any other country. It is understood that No higher or other duties shall be imposed on the importation into or disposition in the United States, its territories or possessions, of any articles the produce or manufacture of Lithuania than are or shall be payable on like articles the produce or manufacture of any foreign country; 1The draft for an exchange of notes regarding reciprocal unconditional mostfavored-nation treatment was submitted to the Lithuanian Legation on Apr. 17, 1925, and was accepted, as here printed, by the Lithuanian Government, after minor changes. 500 No higher or other duties shall be imposed on the importation into or disposition in Lithuania of any articles the produce or manufacture of the United States, its territories or possessions, than are or shall be payable on like articles the produce or manufacture of any foreign country; Similarly, no higher or other duties shall be imposed in the United States, its territories or possessions, or in Lithuania, on the exportation of any articles to the other or to any territory or possession of the other, than are payable on the exportation of like articles to any foreign country; Every concession with respect to any duty, charge or regulation affecting commerce now accorded or that may hereafter be accorded by the United States or by Lithuania, by law, proclamation, decree or commercial treaty or agreement, to the products of any third country will become immediately applicable without request and without compensation to the commerce of Lithuania and of the United States and its territories and possessions, respectively; Provided that this understanding does not relate to (1) The treatment which the United States accords or may hereafter accord to the commerce of Cuba or any of the territories or possessions of the United States or the Panama Canal Zone, or to the treatment which is or may hereafter be accorded to the commerce of the United States with any of its territories or possessions or to the commerce of its territories or possessions with one another. (2) The treatment which Lithuania accords or may hereafter accord to the commerce of Finland, Esthonia, Latvia and/or Russia, so long as such special treatment is not accorded to any other State. (3) Prohibitions or restrictions of a sanitary character or designed to protect human, animal or plant life or regulations for the enforcement of police or revenue laws. The present arrangement shall become operative on the day when the ratification thereof by the Lithuanian Seimas shall be notified to the Government of the United States, and, unless sooner terminated by mutual agreement, shall continue in force until thirty days after notice of its termination shall have been given by either party; but should either party be prevented by future action of its legislature from carrying out the terms of this arrangement, the obligations. thereof shall thereupon lapse. I shall be glad to have your confirmation of the accord thus reached. 611.60 m 31/11 The Lithuanian Minister (Bizauskas) to the Secretary of State SIR: I have the honor to make the following statement of my understanding of the agreement reached through recent conversations held at Washington on behalf of the Government of Lithuania and the Government of the United States with reference to the treatment which the United States shall accord to the commerce of Lithuania and which Lithuania shall accord to the commerce of the United States. These conversations have disclosed a mutual understanding between the two Governments which is that in respect of import and export duties and other duties and charges affecting commerce, as well as in respect of transit, warehousing and other facilities, and the treatment of commercial travelers' samples, the United States will accord to Lithuania, and Lithuania will accord to the United States, its territories and possessions, unconditional most-favorednation treatment; and that in the matter of licensing or prohibitions of imports and exports, each country, so far as it at any time maintains such a system, will accord to the commerce of the other treatment as favorable, with respect to commodities, valuations and quantities, as may be accorded to the commerce of any other country. It is understood that No higher or other duties shall be imposed on the importation into or disposition in the United States, its territories or possessions, of any articles the produce or manufacture of Lithuania than are or shall be payable on like articles the produce or manufacture of any foreign country; No higher or other duties shall be imposed on the importation into or disposition in Lithuania of any articles the produce or manufacture of the United States, its territories or possessions, than are or shall be payable on like articles the produce or manufacture of any foreign country; Similarly, no higher or other duties shall be imposed in the United States, its territories or possessions, or in Lithuania, on the exportation of any articles to the other or to any territory or possession of the other, than are payable on the exportation of like articles to any foreign country; Every concession with respect to any duty, charge or regulation affecting commerce now accorded or that may hereafter be accorded by the United States or by Lithuania, by law, proclamation, decree or commercial treaty or agreement, to the products of any third country will become immediately applicable without request and without compensation to the commerce of Lithuania and of the United States and its territories and possessions, respectively; Provided that this understanding does not relate to (1) The treatment which the United States accords or may hereafter accord to the commerce of Cuba or any of the territories or possessions of the United States or the Panama Canal Zone, or to the |