211.68/54

The Secretary of State to the Minister in Greece ( Skinner )

No. 472

Sir: The Department has received your despatch No. 1613, of February 5, 1931,7 in further relation to the proposed extradition treaty between the United States and Greece.

In view of the explanation made by the Foreign Office respecting the change it desires to have made in paragraph 27 of Article 2, of the Treaty, the Department agrees to such change with a very slight modification of the suggested language, so that the sentence to be added shall read as follows:

“However, extradition for participation or attempt will be accorded in the case of a suspected person only if the maximum of the possible punishment is two years or more, and, in the case of one condemned, only if the sentence pronounced by the jurisdiction of the demanding State is six months or more.”

With respect to the text of the note to be addressed by you to the Foreign Office regarding most-favored-nation arrangements, the Department suggests that a slight change be made in the language proposed by the Foreign Office so that the note shall then read as follows:

“In signing today the treaty of extradition between the United States of America and the Hellenic Republic, I have the honor to declare to your Excellency, under the authority and in the name of my Government, that the Government of the United States will extend to Greece the most favorable treatment now accorded, or which may hereafter be accorded, by the United States to a third Power, with respect to matters dealt with in Articles 9 and 11 of the above mentioned treaty, particularly in that which concerns expenses of every [Page 378] nature, including the usual charges, and the procedure to be followed after the demand for extradition.”

The Department authorizes you to exchange notes of the indicated tenor simultaneously with the signing of the treaty.

There are enclosed full powers for signing8 and a modified draft of the treaty,9 including the changes which have been agreed upon by the two Governments since February 24, 1930, the date of the Department’s instruction with which was enclosed the last draft of the treaty sent to you.

Very truly yours,

For the Secretary of State:
W. R. Castle, Jr.
  1. Not printed.
  2. Not printed.
  3. See text as signed, infra.