560.M3/47: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Chief of the American Delegation (Wilson)
3. Your 11, July 6, 6 [2] p.m. Department wishes you to use your full influence in debate or otherwise persistently against proposal outlined and in favor of the simplest practicable provisions for bringing the Convention into effect. Prompt operation of the Convention is of importance to American commerce.
There seems no good reason for requiring acceptance by a larger number of States than the number which at present maintain well-developed systems of prohibitions and restrictions. If the effectiveness of the Convention or the effectiveness of any State’s ratification thereof must be contingent upon its acceptance by any particular State, that State should be one which maintains such a system.
[Page 396]The contention of German delegate could have practical importance only if the United States maintained a system of restrictions. Since the ratification by the United States of the Convention would not alter the situation so far as its laws and regulations are concerned, Germany, though bound to give it most-favored-nation treatment, would, in return, receive everything without American ratification that it would in the event of American ratification. As a practical matter, only countries that are under most-favored-nation obligations to countries that maintain systems of restrictions, against which the former countries desire to retaliate, need hesitate on that ground to ratify the Convention.
Referring to your reports of the Conference, Department is gratified that a number of the exceptions reserved by other countries have been withdrawn, and wishes you to assist diligently in this process, especially urging the immediate withdrawal of all restrictions affecting the import of automobiles and the export of the raw materials of industry.