551.58B1/49: Telegram

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

10. Second reading of the convention terminated this afternoon and document issued with slight modifications in the same form as submitted by the small committee. Signature will probably take place coming Saturday the 20th.

In the course of the negotiations of several treaties we have established the principle that the United States will not sign at the termination of negotiations but because of its great distance and difficulty of communication must be permitted to sign subsequently with full rights as a signatory state. Article 20 of present draft accords ample lapse of time for our signature.

While I hope that the document will be such that you will find it possible to authorize me to sign, I propose, unless you instruct me to the contrary, to follow the precedent which we have already established and make an announcement in the final plenary session for signature briefly stating our reasons for not signing at the outset and adding that this does not signify on our part an intention not to sign. Fuller explanation is contained in my despatch of April 17th9 mailed today.

Wilson
  1. Not printed.