711.60C2/41
The Polish Minister (Ciechanowski) to the Secretary of State
Sir: With reference to the decision of the Polish Government of October 31st 1928, concerning Article VII of the Treaty of Friendship, Commerce and Consular Eights between Poland and the United States of America under negotiation, of which decision I had the honor to inform you at the time, and with reference to the undertaking of the United States Government to refrain until April 30th 1929 from insisting on the application of the most favored nations clause of the existing modus vivendi now in force between Poland and the United States regarding indirectness of trade between the two countries;—I have now the honor to inform you that my Government have instructed me to communicate to you the following:
- 1.
- Should the conclusion of the Treaty of Friendship, Commerce and Consular Rights be delayed for some unforeseen reason beyond the [Page 937] date of April 30th, 1929,—the Polish Government shall raise no objection to indirect trade between the two countries under the most favored nation clause of the modus vivendi from that date.
- 2.
- Until the 30th April 1929 the Polish Government shall not introduce any new restrictions relating to indirect trade between the United States of America and Poland.
The decision of the Polish Government of the 31st of October 1928 as well as the above stated undertakings of my Government have been given on the understanding that they would be materially instrumental in eliminating any further delay in the conclusion of the said Treaty of Friendship, Commerce and Consular Rights, and in the hope that the conclusion of the said Treaty would take place before April 30th 1929. My Government are convinced that such a prompt conclusion of the Treaty is likewise the aim of the Government of the United States of America.
You have kindly assured me that every effort will be made by the Department of State to expedite the Treaty negotiations, and I can once more assure you that I shall likewise make every effort to achieve the conclusion of the Treaty before April 30th 1929.
However, should it prove impossible for technical reasons to conclude the said Treaty before April 30th 1929, my Government understand that in such a case, the Government of the United States will agree to an extension of the ‘status quo’ obtaining until April 30th 1929 for the period of time indispensable to the conclusion of the said Treaty of Friendship, Commerce and Consular Rights.
Accept [etc.]