611.6831/51: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Minister in Greece (Laughlin)
95. Your 112 December 9, 4 p.m.,25 113 December 9, 5 p.m.25 In note of December 925 Greek Minister confirmed information in your telegram with regard to postponement of the application of the new tariff until March 1st and added that the Greek Government was therefore ready to extend the statics quo as to commercial matters until that date. Greek note further indicates that in this interval the Greek Government proposed to negotiate a provisional convention of a duration of six months to be tacitly renewable on the basis of the new customs tariff, such temporary convention to be eventually replaced by a treaty of commerce of long duration as soon as Greek commercial policy is definitely fixed. It is to such provisional convention that the Minister evidently referred in conversation reported in Department’s 89, December 9, 4 p.m.25
It is Department’s understanding and desire, and it is suggested that you confirm this understanding if possible, that the exchange of notes recently effected, so far as the commercial relations between United States and Greece are concerned, will take the place of any provisional convention such as that mentioned above, since, for the reasons already indicated, the early notification and ratification of a convention is impracticable.