711.4112Anti-War/133
The Chargé in Great Britain (Atherton) to the Secretary of
State
London, June 19,
1928.
[Received July 2.]
No. 2853Sir: With reference to the Department’s
telegraphic Instruction No. 130 dated May 21, 4 p.m., which
requested the Embassy to extend through the Secretary of State for
Foreign Affairs, to His Majesty’s Governments in Australia, New
Zealand and South Africa, and to the Government of India, a cordial
invitation in the name of the Government of the United States to
become original parties to the treaty for the renunciation of war,
which is now under consideration, I have the honor to forward
herewith copies of the several replies, which were transmitted to
the Department in the Embassy’s telegrams, No. 128, dated May 30, 5
p.m., No. 132, dated June 2, 1 p.m., No. 140, dated June 11, 6 p.m.,
and No. 144, dated June 15, 12 noon.80
I have [etc.]
[Enclosure 1]
The British Secretary of State for Foreign
Affairs (Chamberlain), on
Behalf of the Government of New Zealand, to the American
Chargé (Atherton)
London, 30 May,
1928.
No. A 3570/1/45Sir: In the note which Mr. Houghton was
so good as to address to me on May 22nd he extended on behalf of
the Government of the United States an invitation to His
Majesty’s Governments in the Commonwealth of Australia, New
Zealand and in the Union of South Africa, as well as to the
Government of India, to participate individually and as original
signatories in the treaty for the renunciation of war which is
now under consideration.
[Page 88]
2. I now have the honor to inform you that His Majesty’s
Government in New Zealand have received with warm appreciation
the invitation addressed to New Zealand to become an original
party to the treaty proposed by the Government of the United
States for the renunciation of war. His Majesty’s Government in
New Zealand welcome the opportunity, in cooperation with His
Majesty’s Governments in other parts of the British Empire, of
associating themselves with the Government of the United States
in this movement to add greater security to the peace of the
world and they will be happy to share in any negotiations
leading to the conclusion of the proposed treaty.
I have [etc.]
(For the Secretary of State)
R. L. Craigie
[Enclosure 2]
The British Secretary of State for Foreign
Affairs (Chamberlain), on
Behalf of the Commonwealth of Australia, to the American
Chargé (Atherton)
London, 2 June,
1928.
No. A 3734/1/45Sir: In the note which Mr. Houghton was
so good as to address to me on May 22nd last, he extended on
behalf of the Government of the United States an invitation to
His Majesty’s Government in the Commonwealth of Australia to
participate individually and as an original signatory in the
treaty for the renunciation of war which is now under
consideration.
2. I now have the honour to inform you that His Majesty’s
Government in the Commonwealth of Australia have received with
appreciation the invitation to participate as an original party
in the treaty for the renunciation of war which has been
proposed by the Government of the United States of America. His
Majesty’s Government in the Commonwealth of Australia have
carefully and sympathetically examined the draft treaty
submitted to them together with the correspondence that has so
far been exchanged between the interested governments. They
believe that a treaty such as that proposed would be a further
material safeguard to the peace of the world and they will be
happy to co-operate to the fullest extent in its successful
conclusion.
I have [etc.]
(For the Secretary of State)
R. L. Craigie
[Enclosure 3]
The British Secretary of State for Foreign
Affairs (Chamberlain), on
Behalf of the Government of India, to the American
Chargé (Atherton)
London, 11 June,
1928.
No. A 3797/1/45Sir: In the note which Mr. Houghton was
so good as to address to me on the 22nd ultimo, he extended, on
behalf of the Government of the United States, an invitation to
the Government of India to participate individually and as an
original signatory in the treaty for the renunciation of war
which is now under consideration.
2. I now have the honour to inform you that the Government of
India have requested that an expression of their warm thanks may
be conveyed to the United States Government for this invitation
which they are happy to accept. I have the honour to add that
the Government of India desire to associate themselves with the
note which I had the honour to address to Mr. Houghton on the
19th ultimo.
I have [etc.]
(For the Secretary of State)
R. L. Craigie
[Enclosure 4]
The British Secretary of State for Foreign
Affairs (Chamberlain), on
Behalf of the Union of South Africa, to the American
Chargé (Atherton)
London, June 15,
1928.
No. A 4087/1/45Sir: With reference to the note which
Mr. Houghton was so good as to address to me on the 22nd May
conveying an invitation to His Majesty’s Government in the Union
of South Africa to become an original party to the proposed
treaty for the renunciation of war, I have the honour to inform
you that the following message has been received by telegraph
from General Hertzog, Minister of External Affairs of the Union
of South Africa, for communication to you:—
“Through the good offices of His Majesty’s Government in
the United Kingdom the contents of the note addressed by
Your Excellency to His Excellency the British Secretary
of State for Foreign Affairs on the 22nd May were duly
conveyed to me. On behalf of His Majesty’s Government in
the Union of South Africa I beg to state that the
cordial invitation of the Government of the United
States extended to His Majesty’s Government in the Union
of South Africa to participate individually and as an
original
[Page 90]
signatory in the treaty for the renunciation of war
which the United States Government proposed to various
governments on the 13th April last, is highly
appreciated and that His Majesty’s Government in the
Union of South Africa will gladly take part therein, as
invited, together with the other Governments whose
participation in the proposed treaty was invited in the
first instance.
“In expressing their willingness to be a party to the
proposed treaty His Majesty’s Government in the Union of
South Africa take it for granted—
- “(a) that it is not
intended to deprive any party to the proposed
treaty of any of its natural right of legitimate
self-defence;
- “(b) that a violation
of any one of the parties of any of the provisions
of the proposed treaty will free the other parties
from obligation to observe its terms in respect of
the party committing such violation; and
- “(c) that provision
will be made for rendering it quite clear that it
is not intended that the Union of South Africa, by
becoming a party to the proposed treaty, would be
precluded from fulfilling, as a member of the
League of Nations, its obligations towards the
other members thereof under the provisions of the
Covenant of the League.”
I have [etc.]
(For the Secretary of State)
R. L. Craigie
