notifying you of the willingness of His Majesty's Government in Great Britain to sign a multi-lateral treaty for the renunciation of war as proposed by the Government of the United States. I have [etc.] AUSTEN CHAMBERLAIN 711.9412Anti-War/48: Telegram The Chargé in Japan (Neville) to the Secretary of State TOKYO, July 18, 1928—6 p. m. 86. My telegram No. 83, July 9, 2 p. m.99 Foreign Minister told me today that the question of wording is still causing some difficulty in the Government. He said that this is the only reason for Japanese Parliament's delay in answering, but he hoped to be able to reply favorably in a few days. NEVILLE 711.5512Anti-War/22 The Ambassador in Belgium (Gibson) to the Secretary of State No. 288 BRUSSELS, July 18, 1928. [Received July 28.] 99 SIR: In confirmation of my telegram No. 43, of July 17, 7 p. m., I have the honor to transmit herewith a copy, with English translation, of the note by which the Minister for Foreign Affairs informed me of the Belgian Government's willingness to sign the proposed multilateral treaty providing for the renunciation of war. Although published textually in all of last evening's and this morning's newspapers, the note has elicited no editorial comment from the Belgian press. I have [etc.] [Enclosure-Translation] HUGH GIBSON The Belgian Minister for Foreign Affairs (Hymans) to the American Ambassador (Gibson) Direction P. No. 452-32-611-5041 BRUSSELS, July 17, 1928. MR. AMBASSADOR: The Government of the King has examined with lively sympathy the letter of June 23 in which, acting under instructions from your Government, you have been good enough to invite Belgium to conclude a multilateral treaty providing that "Not printed. 237576--42- -16 the signatory States bind themselves to renounce war as an instrument of national policy. Belgium is deeply attached to peace. She has always worked actively for the realization of movements tending to consolidate peace. She is therefore happy to pay her tribute to the idea inspiring the draft treaty. The text prepared by the Government of Washington commands the full approbation of the Royal Government. This Government notes with satisfaction the explanations and interpretations contained in Your Excellency's letter. It is pleased to note that the proposed pact will maintain unimpaired the rights and obligations arising from the Covenant of the League of Nations and from the Locarno agreements which constitute for Belgium fundamental guarantees of security. The Belgian Government highly appreciates the action of the American Government which permits it to join in the great work destined to develop the spirit of peace throughout the world and to diminish in future the risks of new catastrophes. The Royal Government would be grateful if the Government of the United States would inform it as to the date and place which it may choose for the signature of the treaty. I avail myself [etc.] 711.60 c 12Anti-War/39 HYMANS The Minister in Poland (Stetson) to the Secretary of State No. 1843 WARSAW, July 18, 1928. SIR: In confirmation of my telegraphic despatch No. 51 of July 16 [17], 6 p. m.,2 I have the honor to transmit, herewith, a copy of the original text, in French, of the note from the Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, signifying Poland's acceptance of Secretary Kellogg's pact for the renunciation of war. A translation of the above mentioned note, as transmitted in my telegram referred to, is also enclosed. For the information of the Department, I may say that the note in question was handed to Mr. Werlich, Third Secretary of this Legation, by Count Joseph Potocki, Chief of the Anglo-American Section of the Polish Foreign Office, at 12:20 P. M., July 17th, ultimo [sic]. I have [etc.] 'Not printed. For the Minister: J. WEBB BENTON Secretary of Legation [Enclosure-Translation] The Polish Under Secretary for Foreign Affairs (Wysocki) to the American Minister (Stetson) P. II. 40.913/28 WARSAW, July 8 [17?], 1928. MR. MINISTER: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of the note No. 1175, of June 23, last, which you were good enough to send me, to which was attached the draft of a multilateral pact against war, as proposed by His Excellency, Mr. Kellogg. The principles which Mr. Kellogg has emphasized in the draft above-mentioned being entirely conformable with the objectives that Poland never ceases pursuing in its foreign policy, I have the honor to communicate to you the fact that the Polish Government accepts the text of the above stated pact and declares itself ready to affix its signature thereto. As regards the interpretation of the pact in question which you have been good enough to give in your note of the 23rd of June and which confirms the fact that the pact is destined to insure the consolidation of peaceful relations between States on the basis of the existing international obligations, the Polish Government takes note of the following statements: (1) That the pact does not affect in any way the right of legitimate defense inherent in each State; (2) That each State signatory to the pact who may endeavor to realize its national interests by means of war shall be deprived of the benefits of the said pact; (3) That no incompatibility exists between the stipulations of the pact against war and the obligations derived from the Covenant of the League of Nations for States which are members of the latter. This statement results from the very fact that the pact proposed by Mr. Kellogg stipulates the renunciation of war as an instrument of national policy. These precisions as well as the opportunity given to all States to adhere to the pact are of a nature to assure to Poland the possibility of satisfying her international obligations. The Polish Government permits itself to express the hope of seeing the realization in the nearest future of this great common work of peace and stabilization destined to assure its benefits to all mankind. Please accept [etc.] ALFRED WYSOCKI 711.5212Anti-War/17 Memorandum by the Chief of the Division of Western European Affairs (Marriner) [WASHINGTON,] July 19, 1928. The Spanish Ambassador called to inform the Secretary that his Government had perfectly understood the situation with respect to the notes communicated to it for its information and that the Prime Minister was very sorry indeed that incorrect reports had appeared in the Spanish press and had emanated from Madrid on this point. He brought with him the text of a communique which his Government desired to issue on the subject which stated that the Spanish Government, having been invited to express its willingness to sign the treaty after examining the notes sent to it for its information, was willing so to do and expected an invitation shortly. The Secretary would not agree to this, but said that he was quite willing that Spain should say that, after examining the notes submitted to it for its information, it was willing to sign as an original party without reservations if invited so to do, and asked that the following alternative draft be considered by the Spanish Government for an informal statement: "The Spanish Government having examined with the greatest care the provisions and contents of the note of the Secretary of State of the United States of America addressed to the principal Powers together with the explanation given to the provisions of the proposed pact for the renunciation of war, which note was communicated to the Spanish Government for its information by the American Ambassador at Madrid, is prepared to express its indorsement of the high purposes of the treaty which accord with the pacific attitude of the Spanish nation and will be happy to sign as an original party without reservations if invited so to do." The Secretary told the Ambassador that when he had received all the answers he would raise the question with the other Governments and that it was absolutely necessary that he do this as he could not take the initiative or the sole action of inviting other Powers since the inclusion of any Power not at present in the scope of the negotiations would certainly cause application to be made by many others. He told the Ambassador that there had been some delay in the Japanese reply due to some questions of phraseology, but that he would take the question up, as soon as he received a favorable reply from Japan, with the other Powers. Subsequently Mr. Marriner told the Ambassador that the question had become somewhat complicated by the leak in the Spanish press since other Powers had begun making similar inquiries and the question of where to draw the line might be of great difficulty. The Am bassador pointed out that one difficulty would not arise if Spain were included among the original signatories and that would be any difficulty as to ratifications, since as there was no Parliament in Spain, the signature of the Government required no ratification. The Ambassador expressed his real disturbance that the leak in the Spanish press had further complicated the question, and said he hoped that the Secretary understood that this was not the fault of the Spanish Government. J. T[HEODORE] M[ARRINER] 711.60 f 12Anti-War/33: Telegram The Minister in Czechoslovakia (Einstein) to the Secretary of State PRAGUE, July 20, 1928-10 a. m. [Received 9 p. m.] 62. My telegram number [61?] July 10 [19], 1 p. m.3 Text of note from Minister for Foreign Affairs: "Mr. Minister: I have had the honor of receiving Your Excellency's letter of June 23rd by which the Government of the United States invites the Government of the Czechoslovak Republic to sign the proposed treaty for the renunciation of war. The same invitation was transmitted to our representative in Washington. The letter contains in addition to the integral text of the proposed treaty a commentary on the text which explains the remarks of the French Government and indicates in detail the meaning and the significance which the Government of the United States attaches to the multilateral treaty in the event of the treaty's signature, ratification, and enactment. I have the honor to transmit to Your Excellency by this note the reply of the Czechoslovak [Government]. 1. First I would very respectfully thank the Government of the United States for having addressed its invitation to us. From the beginning we have followed the negotiations between the French and American Governments on the subject of the pact for the renunciation of war with the greatest sympathy and attention, and were ready at any moment to associate ourselves with this noble undertaking, which marks a memorable date in the history of the world after the war. In our negotiations which I have had the honor, during the last few months, to carry on with the representatives of the United States, France and Great Britain, I have several times emphasized the importance of this act and the political necessity of associating thereto also the other powers and especially those who have assumed obligations by their negotiations at Locarno in 1925. The Government of the United States, agreeing fully in this with the other powers, has been good enough to recognize the justice of this point of view and 'Not printed. |