711.589/9
The Swedish Legation to the Department of State
Memorandum
Before signing the proposed so-called liquor treaty with the United States the Swedish Government desires to know if the American Government would be willing to have article 1 omitted or, if not that, to have inserted in this article or in the introduction to the treaty provisions to the effect that the treaty shall not be considered [Page 169] establishing a precedent with regard to the territorial limits hitherto upheld by the contracting parties.
Further, the Swedish Government desires to know if the American Government would-be willing to agree to reciprocal rights of boarding smuggling vessels outside the limits of the territorial waters. It is thought that such reciprocal rights might be of importance in the event Sweden should wish to make similar treaties with other powers.
In passing the Swedish Government should like to know if there may be a possibility of having the treaty ratified by the Senate during the present session of Congress, if the treaty were to be signed in the middle of this month.