500.A14/239: Telegram
The Chairman of the American Delegation (Burton) to the Secretary of State
[Received May 14—1:10 a.m.]
28. The French delegation apparently desire to secure an insertion in the, draft convention of a provision to the effect that the high contracting parties undertake not to authorize the exportation of war material to countries where domestic legislation prohibits the importation of such material. Their objective is to secure the cooperation of exporting states in making effective the provisions of the treaties of Versailles, St. Germain, Trianon and Neuilly which prohibit the importation of war material by Germany, Austria, Hungary and Bulgaria.
A draft provision to the above effect has already been circulated by the Uruguayan representative and may shortly be discussed by the conference. While delegation doubts whether it would be practicable to attempt to secure legislation to make effective any such provision it would appreciate Department’s instructions.