Foreign Relations of the United States Diplomatic Papers, 1932, General, Volume I

500.A15A4 Steering Committee/90: Telegram

The American Delegate (Wilson) to the Secretary of State

Geneva, October 14, 1932—4 p.m.
[Received October 14—12:40 p.m.]

410. My telegram number 402, October 6, 8 p.m., and 403, October 8, 5 p.m. The Committee for the Regulation of the Traffic in and Manufacture of Arms has concluded its first reading of the draft convention of 1929 on manufacture⁸⁶ without registering any substantial progress toward a settlement of the different points of view expressed.

On Tuesday the Committee will begin discussion of the traffic in arms convention.

During the discussions the question of licenses to cover export and import shipments will undoubtedly arise. Please instruct me prior to this meeting regarding the attitude to be adopted (1) covering the suggestion made by Madariaga as reported in the first telegram under reference and (2) concerning the last question raised in my 403.

An effort may be made to establish a definite limitation upon shipments of arms in addition to adopting stricter provisions for their licensing and attendant publicity. It is presumed that no system of licenses can be accepted unless accompanied by adequate publicity.

Wilson

86. For text, see League of Nations, Reduction of Armaments, Supervision of the Private Manufacture and Publicity of the Manufacture of Arms and Ammunition and of Implements of War (Official No.: A.30.1929.IX), p. 6.