The Secretary of State to the Netherlands Minister.
Washington , February 7, 1906 .
Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your note of the 23d ultimo transmitting authenticated and nonauthenticated copies of the convention concerning hospital ships, signed at The Hague on December 21, 1904, and of the final act bearing the same [Page 903] date. You inform me of the advice you have received from your Government that no adhesions have been declared to this convention of which several of the signatory States are ready to deposit their instruments of ratification, and that the Government of the Queen is of opinion that it would be desirable not to effect the deposit of the said instruments until the majority of the States signatories to the convention are in a position to join in this first deposit.
As you were informed by this department’s note of February 24, 1905, the Senate, by its resolution of the 21st of the same month, gave its advice and consent to the ratification of this convention. In view of the wish of your Government, as expressed above, the President’s ratification will be deferred until you shall have informed this department that the Government of the Netherlands is ready to receive the deposit thereof.
Should the enactment by Congress of a law to exempt the hospital ships from federal dues be found necessary, the President’s ratification will be made subject to such enactment.
Accept, etc.