511.3 B 1/82
The Economic Adviser to the British Delegation at the Conference on the Limitation of Armament ( Smith ) to the Assistant to the American Delegation ( Harrison )
Dear Mr. Leland Harrison: After our recent conversation on the subject of the Arms Traffic Convention, you kindly promised to [Page 547] refer to Mr. Hughes as regards the three alternative methods of procedure which were mentioned in our discussion, viz:
- (1)
- Ratification of the Convention by the United States of America with reservation as to the provisions referring to the League of Nations.
- (2)
- Enactment of legislation by the United States of America giving power to the Government to prohibit the export of Arms and Ammunition to all destinations, except under licence, together with some provision analogous to Article 1179 of the Convention.
- (3)
- An effort to negotiate a new Arms Traffic Convention in a form agreeable to the United States of America.
As you remember, we were fully alive to the difficulties of each of these courses, but before proceeding further you desired to take the instructions of the Secretary of State thereon. You also promised to enquire if there were any substantial objections to any of the provisions of the Convention of St. Germain other than the references to the League of Nations.
I have no doubt that in the last few days you have found it difficult to approach the Secretary of State on the subject, but if you are in a position to make any communication to me before our departure I should be very grateful. I leave Washington on Monday morning after the plenary session.
Yours sincerely,
- Providing for supervision and police measures within territorial waters in the prohibited areas and zone specified in art. 6, by the sovereign State or Mandatory Power.↩