Office of the Historian

763.72119/10097: Telegram

The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in France (Wallace)

Washington, July 19, 1920—6 p.m.

1273. Your 1348 July 1, 8 p.m., Section 11.

In this connection refer to 4198 September 13, 1919,62 from Am[erican] Mission, Department’s 3469 October 17 to AmMission and 4824 October 25 from AmMission.

Department prefers not to express any opinion concerning matter herein presented. The following is for your information and to be used at your discretion. Government of the United States is not encouraging exportation of arms and ammunition to any country, but exportation of such commodities is not controlled at present time except to Mexico, Austria, Bulgaria, Hungary, Turkey, China and that part of Russia which is under control of Soviet government. This control is exercised entirely apart from Arms Traffic Convention. This Government has adopted the spirit of Arms Traffic Convention as a matter of policy, insofar as concerns government owned or controlled arms.

Advise Department concerning decision of other powers with reference to continued adherence to protocol of Convention.

Colby
  1. Not printed.↩