500.C114/893: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Chargé in Switzerland (Moffat)
133. With reference to Legation’s despatch No. 1119, dated October 8, 1929. The President in his message to Congress tomorrow, December 3,39 is announcing that he has authorized, on behalf of the United States, the signature of the three protocols, relative to the Permanent Court of International Justice, as follows:
- (1)
- The protocol of signature of the statute of the Court;
- (2)
- The protocol of accession of the United States to protocol of signature of the statute of the Court;
- (3)
- The protocol of revision of the statute of the Court.
Please inform Sir Eric Drummond confidentially of the foregoing and also that full powers have been mailed to you for signature of the documents on Monday, December 9. Department hopes that exhibition to Drummond of these present telegraphic instructions [Page 42] will be sufficient authority for you to sign. At time of signature you should present note to Sir Eric of which text is quoted hereunder and which is answer to his note of October 7, 1929, to me. I suggest, however, that you furnish a copy to him immediately for his confidential information. If agreeable to Sir Eric both notes will be made public in Washington and in Geneva on December 9.
Until the President’s announcement in his message on Tuesday, the whole matter should be kept confidential. Text of note to be handed Sir Eric is as follows:40
“I am instructed by the Secretary of State of the United States to acknowledge with appreciation the receipt of your note of October 7, 1929, in which you informed him of the action taken with regard to the protocol concerning the accession of the United States to the Statute of the Permanent Court of International Justice, as well as the protocol to effect certain amendments in the Statute of the Permanent Court. Note has been taken of the fact that fifty states have up to date signed the protocol of American accession to the Court.
In view of the almost unanimous acceptance of the protocol of accession by the members of the Court, it gives me pleasure to inform you that at the direction of the President of the United States I have been instructed to sign on behalf of the United States of America, the protocol of signature of the statute of the Permanent Court of International Justice; the protocol of accession of the United States of America to the protocol of signature of the statute of the Permanent Court of International Justice; the protocol of revision of the statute of the Permanent Court of International Justice.
The Secretary of State has requested me to express through you to the members of the Court who have signed the protocol of American accession, the appreciation of the Government of the United States for their friendly endeavors to meet the objections set forth in the reservations of the United States.”
You will please express my personal appreciation to Sir Eric for his ceaseless efforts to obtain accession of the United States to the Permanent Court of International Justice on bases satisfactory both to the members of the Court and to this Government.