711.162/18: Telegram

The Acting Secretary of State to the Chargé in Salvador (Engert)

27. Your 36, July 1, 2 p.m. Draft text of general commercial treaty for presentation to Salvadorean Government will be mailed you as soon as possible. Department gratified at willingness of Salvador to negotiate.

Text of German treaty is being sent forward. Similar treaty signed June 24 with Hungary.16 Legation at Panama has been instructed to present similar text to Panaman Government.17 Department expects shortly to propose negotiations to Mexico and other Central and South American countries. Before doing so Department would like to reach signature with Salvador.

[Paraphrase.] The text which the Department will send you is that which it has prepared for negotiation, generally, with such incidental and detailed alterations as are needed to meet particular circumstances. Unconditional most-favored-nation treatment is the essential feature. The United States will insist on this principle but its statement is in general terms. The instrument may appropriately be called simply one of commerce and consular rights. The Department believes it best to present text before you discuss separate treaty of friendship. You will stand in readiness then to receive suggestions based upon the text presented, and to communicate to the Department any proposal made by Salvador for separate treaty. [End paraphrase.]

Grew
  1. Foreign Relations, 1925, vol. ii, p. 341.
  2. See comment made by Wallace McClure, vol. i, p. 570, footnote 11.