711.60p2/30: Telegram

The Minister in Latvia ( Coleman ) to the Secretary of State

24. Department’s 14, February 29, 3 p.m.

1. Latvian Foreign Minister believes he can induce Latvian Parliamentary Commission on Foreign Affairs to agree to suppression of exception relating to monopolies if Government of the United States [Page 207] will agree to following changes in draft of article 7 as submitted by the Department in instruction 406 of January 21, 1927.

Final sentence of first paragraph to be omitted. The following new paragraph to be inserted after third paragraph of Department’s draft:

“Nothing in this treaty shall be construed to restrict the right of either high contracting party to impose, on such terms as it may see fit, prohibitions or restrictions relating to national defense, public security and public order; prohibitions or restrictions of a sanitary character designed to protect human, animal or plant life; regulations for the enforcement police or revenue laws.”

2. Department’s 9, February 2, 2 p.m. With respect to article 16 Latvian Government requests that the second sentence read as follows:

“The measures of a general or particular character which either of the high contracting parties is obliged to take in case of an emergency affecting the safety of the state or the vital interests of the country may in exceptional cases and for as short a period as possible involve a deviation from the provisions of this paragraph; it being understood that the principle of freedom of transit must be observed to the utmost possible extent.”

Coleman