Office of the Historian

711.542/9

Memorandum by Mr. Prentiss B. Gilbert of the Division of Western European Affairs

[Washington,] July 15, 1925.

The commercial relationships of the United States with Switzerland are governed by the Convention of 1850,1 proclaimed November 9, 1855, minus the operation of the “full and unlimited guarantee of the fullest most-favored-nation treatment” which was claimed by Switzerland thereunder and granted for a short period which ceased to be in effect on March 23, 1900.2 Reference: Confidential despatch American Legation at Berne, No. 1156, September 11, 1923.3

Telegram to Legation Berne, September 29, 1923,3 Department is prepared to negotiate with the Swiss Government a general treaty of amity, commerce and consular rights. Legation is instructed to inquire whether the negotiation of such a treaty would be agreeable to the Swiss Government, etc., etc.

Telegram from Mr. Grew, October 9, 1923,3 stating that the Federal Council had examined question of negotiations and was quite in accord with our proposal.

Telegram to American Legation Berne, February [November] 27, 1923,3 text of treaty will be mailed about December 1.

Telegram from Mr. Grew, March 11, 1924,3 stating that before leaving Switzerland he would be glad, if possible, to inform Motta4 when we shall carry out our intentions with regard to the negotiation of a treaty.

Telegram to American Legation, Berne, March 14, 1924,3 stating that before proceeding with negotiation, the Department must await action of Senate on German treaty.5

P[rentiss] B. G[ilbert]
  1. Miller, Treaties, vol. 5, p. 845.↩
  2. See Foreign Relations, 1899, pp. 740 ff.↩
  3. Not printed.↩
  4. Not printed.↩
  5. Not printed.↩
  6. Not printed.↩
  7. Not printed.↩
  8. Dr. Giuseppe Motta, Chief of the Swiss Political Department.↩
  9. Not printed.↩
  10. Treaty of friendship, commerce and consular rights, signed Dec. 8, 1923; Foreign Relations, 1923, vol. ii, p. 29.↩