611.5831/24
The Secretary of State to the Swedish Minister (Ekengren)
Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your note of September 25 [24] 1919, in which you propose the conclusion of a new commercial treaty between Sweden and the United States in lieu of the treaty of July 4, 1827, which expired on February 4, 1919, containing the same provisions as that treaty except as to articles 13 and 14, in so far as they conflict with the terms of the Act of Congress approved March 4, 1915, and that the new treaty be subject to termination on three months notice by either of the contracting parties.
I agree that the conclusion of a new commercial treaty between Sweden and the United States would be desirable. But in addition to the changes proposed in your note, I would suggest that it may be desirable to eliminate or carefully revise certain of the articles of the treaty of April 3rd, 1783, which were revived by Article 17 of the treaty of 1827, in order to bring the new treaty into closer accord with more recent international practice and agreements.
I shall be pleased to consider further, in connection with the Consular Convention concluded June 1, 1910, your suggestion that the Swedish Government, if the proposed treaty is concluded, would be willing to accept the abrogation of Articles 11 and 12 of the said [Page 212] Convention, so far as these articles are inconsistent with the provisions of the Act of Congress of March 4, 1915.
Accept [etc.]