Papers relating to the foreign relations of the United States, 1929, Volume I

514.2A12/49½

Memorandum by Mr. Rollin R. Winslow, Division of Western European Affairs

On February 6, 1925, the Department received a note from the Minister of Switzerland at Washington¹ inquiring whether this Government would be ready to take part in a Conference for the revision of the Geneva Convention of July 6, 1906, for the amelioration of the condition of the wounded in armies in the field² and whether it would be willing in principle to join in the framing of a code for prisoners of war.

The Geneva Convention of 1906 contained twenty-one articles providing in detail that persons attached to armies in the field who are sick and wounded shall be respected and cared for, without distinction of nationality by the belligerent power in whose hands they may fall; that after an engagement the belligerent in possession of the field shall search for the wounded and dead and protect them from robbery and ill treatment; that lists of the sick and wounded shall be given to the enemy, et cetera.

On June 22, 1925, a reply was sent to the Swiss Minister¹ based on a communication from the Secretary of War stating that this Government “will be glad to take part in a Conference for the revision of the Geneva Convention of July 6, 1906, and will be ready in principle to join in the framing of a code for prisoners of war and to entrust the same diplomatic conference” to work out both questions.

Since the date of the above note a study has been made and an extensive correspondence exchanged between the State, War and Navy Departments, by way of formulating this Government’s views on the matters to be discussed and in working out the details connected with American participation. On December 28, 1929 [1928], a note was sent to the Swiss Minister¹ enclosing proposals made by the War Department for the revision of the Geneva Convention of 1906 and for the framing of a code for prisoners of war.

In regard to the code for prisoners of war the War Department proposed that the provisions of Section I of the Annex to The Hague Convention of 1907 respecting the laws and customs of war on land⁴ should form a basis for such a code and should be extended and amended to meet any discrepancies developed during the World War.

[ Washington ,] June 5, 1929.

R[ollin] R. W[inslow]

1. Not printed.
2. Foreign Relations, 1906, pt. 2, p. 1559.
1. Not printed.
1. Not printed.
4. Foreign Relations, 1907, pt. 2, p. 1204.