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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.
Accept [etc.]
K. BIZAUSKAS

WASHINGTON, December 23, 1925.

611.60 m 31/18

The Lithuanian Minister (Bizauskas) to the Secretary of State

No. 2334

WASHINGTON, July 9, 1926.
[Received July 10.]

SIR: I have the honor to inform you that the modus vivendi concluded between the Government of Lithuania and the Government of the United States by the exchange of notes on December 23, 1925, was ratified by the Lithuanian Seimas on March 24, 1926.

Accept [etc.]

K. BIZAUSKAS

MEXICO

CONVENTIONS BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND MEXICO, SIGNED DECEMBER 23, 1925: (1) CONVENTION TO PREVENT SMUGGLING; (2) SUPPLEMENTARY EXTRADITION CONVENTION

711.129/18

The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Mexico (Sheffield)

No. 89

WASHINGTON, December 17, 1924. SIR: I enclose two copies of a statement which the Department gave to the press on June 6, 1924,1 announcing the conclusion of a Convention between the United States and Canada to aid in suppressing smuggling operations along the boundary between the two countries and in the arrest and prosecution of persons violating the narcotic laws of either Government. This Convention, of which a copy is enclosed for your confidential information 2 has been approved by the Senate of the United States and is now awaiting ratification by Canada.

Responsive to frequent communications demonstrating widespread interest in the southwest in border conditions, this Department, in consultation with the Treasury Department, has been giving serious consideration to the problem of better enforcement of existing laws and of curtailing certain evils and vices now existent along the Mexican border. A short time ago, in response to an informal inquiry, advices were received from the Mexican Embassy at this capital to the effect that the Mexican Government was believed to be favorably disposed to negotiate with the United States a Convention similar to that with Canada and that the Mexican Government was then preparing a list of suggestions which the Embassy would bring to the Department's attention as soon as received. It does not appear, however, that such a list has thus far been received from the Embassy, but the Secretary of the Treasury has now suggested that an informal conference be arranged between officials of this Government and representatives of the United Mexican States to discuss illicit traffic in narcotics, intoxicating liquor, tobacco, et cetera, and to formulate a Convention along the lines of that negotiated with Canada.

As it appears that there is no extradition treaty with Mexico covering crimes and offences against the laws for the suppression of the

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traffic in narcotics, it is suggested that it would be desirable to endeavor to negotiate an extradition convention with Mexico covering this subject. Such a convention has been negotiated with Canada and it is expected that it will be signed at an early date. A copy of this convention is also enclosed for your confidential information.3

Accordingly, the Department desires that you bring this matter to the attention of the Mexican Government with a view to arranging for an informal preliminary conference of officials of the two governments for the purpose of discussing the question of providing additional facilities for the suppression of such illicit traffic between persons residing in the two countries, and of drawing up draft conventions for submission to the respective Governments for their consideration. You will request to be acquainted with the views of the Mexican Government in this matter and telegraph a brief report to the Department as soon as you receive a reply.

I am [etc.]

711.129/19: Telegram

CHARLES E. HUGHES

The Chargé in Mexico (Schoenfeld) to the Secretary of State

MEXICO, January 30, 1925-3 p. m.
[Received 9: 17 p. m.]

36. Department's telegram 27 January 29, 4 p. m. In conversation with Ambassador Sheffield on December 27th last the Minister for Foreign Affairs expressed willingness of Mexican Government in principle to conclude a convention with the United States to suppress smuggling operations along the border and also to participate in an informal conference in order to formulate a convention regarding illicit traffic in narcotics etc. Accordingly, on December 29th the Ambassador sent a formal note to the Minister for Foreign Affairs confirming the oral understanding and enclosing copies of the Department's press statement of June 6, 1924, as well as of the pertinent articles of the conventions with Canada including those of the proposed extradition convention for the Minister's confidential information. The note called attention to the fact that the Department had not yet received Mexican Government's promised suggestions regarding improvement of conditions on the border and requested advice as to the Mexican Government's desires in connection with the holding of informal preliminary conference to discuss suppression of illicit traffic and to formulate draft conventions.

No formal reply to this note has yet been received and Under Secretary of Foreign Relations informs me today that the matter is still

3 Vol. 1, p. 542. The convention was signed Jan. 8, 1925.

'Not printed.

in the hands of the Ministry of Finance which has been urged to expedite consideration. Mexican Government regards the question as of great importance and is anxious to proceed. I am promised there will be no unnecessary delay so far as Foreign Office is concerned. SCHOENFELD

211.12/73a: Telegram

The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Mexico (Sheffield)

WASHINGTON, February 27, 1925-noon.

39. Your 36, January 30, 3 P. M. If an Extradition Convention covering narcotic cases could be signed promptly and approved during the brief special session of the Senate after March 4th, it would be beneficial. You will therefore please sound the Mexican Government but at the same time make it clear that the suggestion in regard to the Narcotic Convention is made merely because of the desirability of action on this one phase of the general subject in view of the lapse of time before the next session of the Senate, and that it is in no way suggested that the plan for the Conference proposed in my mail instruction Number 89 of December 17 last to discuss and establish bases for a Convention covering the general subjects of smuggling, liquor control, et cetera, be abandoned.

If the Mexican Government should agree that priority be given to an Extradition Treaty covering offenses against the Narcotic Laws of both countries, it is suggested that such a Convention be negotiated and signed here, the Treaty with Canada being used as a basis therefor.

HUGHES

211.12/74: Telegram

The Ambassador in Mexico (Sheffield) to the Secretary of State

MEXICO, February 28, 1925-1 p. m.
[Received 9:33 p. m.]

49. Department's telegram 39, February 27, noon. Secretary of Foreign Relations informed me this morning that he would immediately consult the appropriate authorities with regard to the possibility of authorizing the Mexican Ambassador at Washington to sign an extradition treaty covering offenses against the narcotic laws of both countries along the lines of our treaty with Canada and that he would inform me at the earliest possible moment of the Government's decision. Assuming that there was no fundamental objection to this action he was fearful that it would take 8 or 10 days in any case to prepare and to send to the Mexican Ambassador full powers unless it could be arranged to authorize the Ambassador by tele

graph to sign the treaty and upon arrival of the full powers to consider them as having been delivered earlier.

I do not believe there will be any objection on the part of the Mexican Government to signing the treaty and hope to be able to report the Government's decision early next week.

I am also in receipt of a note dated February 24 in reply to my note of December 29 referred to in Embassy's telegram 36 of January 30, 3 p. m. to the effect that the Mexican Government is disposed to conclude a convention regarding contraband along the frontier and requesting me to supply the names of the American experts to meet the Mexicans at a preliminary conference. I infer from this note that, if we name our experts, Mexicans will follow suit without delay; and therefore request to be informed of their names for communication to the Mexican Government.

SHEFFIELD

711.129/23: Telegram

The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Mexico (Sheffield)

WASHINGTON, March 21, 1925—5 p. m.

62. Your 49, February 28, 1 p. m., last paragraph. Please inform Mexican Government that the American Commission to represent this Government in proposed preliminary conference will be made up as follows: Treasury Department-Honorable McKenzie Moss, Assistant Secretary of the Treasury, Chairman of the Commission, accompanied by Mr. H. S. Creighton, Customs Agent in Charge at San Francisco, and Mr. L. G. Nutt, Chief, Narcotic Division, Treasury Department, experts; Department of State-Mr. William R. Vallance, Assistant Solicitor; Department of Justice-Honorable Harvey R. Gamble, now Assistant United States Attorney for the Western District of Texas.

The suggestion has also been made that the discussion should include the question of the smuggling of aliens across the frontier in contravention of the immigration laws of either country. The Department desires that you make this suggestion to the Mexican Government and report by telegraph should that Government concur, in order that the Department of Labor may be asked to nominate a representative.

KELLOGG

711.129/23 supp. : Telegram

The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Mexico (Sheffield)

WASHINGTON, March 28, 1925-3 p. m.

70. Department's 62, March 21, 5 p. m. Ascertain informally whether it would be agreeable to Mexico to hold conference to sup

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