560.M3/46: Telegram

The Chief of the American Delegation ( Wilson ) to the Secretary of State

12. At afternoon session general conference received report from the special conference on hides, skins and bones to the effect that conventions on skins and bones had been approved by 18 states. These are to be regarded as acts separate from the general convention and to be ratified in advance thereof. The conference agreed in principle to insert a paragraph in the general convention providing that, if the hides and bones agreements have not been ratified at the time of the entry into force of the former, the interested states may again introduce their claims for exceptions on hides and bones which would then have to be passed on by a special meeting of the Conference. The drafting was referred to a subcommittee.

The Conference then agreed in principle that the general convention must be ratified by at least 18 states, including the list of 14 states contained in my 11, July 6, 2 p.m.

Ratifications are to be notified before September 30, 1929; if all conditions have been fulfilled on that date, convention will enter into force on January 1, 1930; if not fulfilled, final paragraph of article 17 will apply.

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A special clause to be added to protocol was passed in principle as follows:

“Owing to the position of the United States resulting from the short session of the Congress during the year 1928–1929, the high contracting parties are agreed that if the United States’ ratification has not been obtained before September 30, 1929, in conformity with the provisions of article (blank) but the ratifications or accessions of all the other states which are indispensable by the same article have been received by September 30, 1929, the convention shall come into force on January 1, 1930, unless previous to November 15, 1929, one of the states having ratified the convention by that date or having acceded thereto before September 30, 1929, raises an objection.

In this case the last paragraph of article 17 of the convention of November 8, 1927, shall apply.” (see my 11, July 6, 2 p.m.).

In regard to Czechoslovakia’s conditional reservations, those on sugar beets and rounded timber have been withdrawn. That on quartzite was admitted under paragraph 2 of article 6 and of hop shoots under paragraph 1. Czechoslovakia deferring to arguments advanced in my 9, July 5, 7 [2?] p.m., thereupon withdrew its exceptions on automobiles, wine, cattle and swine.

Bulgarian reservation on rose trees, roots and shoots admitted under paragraph 1; that dealing with falsification of national products rejected.

Colijn announced that there will be a short session tomorrow morning at which drafting committee will be appointed to work over weekend and submit final draft for consideration Monday afternoon. Colijn subsequently informed me I would be given an opportunity to make statement on films Saturday morning.

Wilson