In his despatch, Sir John Simon reviews the negotiations incident to the
initialling of the Four Power Agreement, and re-asserts the British
Government’s attitude towards it as embodying “the expression of that spirit
of conciliation and mutual cooperation without which European recovery would
be impossible and the prospect of world peace would be jeopardized”. It may
be noted that the Foreign Secretary reaffirmed the British Government’s
position that the new Agreement “does not imply any extension of the
obligations of the United Kingdom in European affairs”.
For the moment, English public opinion is concentrated on the questions at
issue in the approaching World Economic Conference, among [Page 417] which that of the June 15 War Debt payment
is persistently included, which accounts for the relatively slight interest
shown here in the initialling of this Four Power Agreement.
[Enclosure]
Agreement of Understanding and Cooperation45
Preamble
The President of the German Reich, the President of the French Republic,
His Majesty the King of Great Britain, Ireland and the British Dominions
beyond the Seas, Emperor of India, and His Majesty the King of
Italy;
Conscious of the special responsibilities incumbent on them as possessing
permanent representation on the Council of the League of Nations, where
the League itself and its members are concerned, and of the
responsibilities resulting from their common signature of the Locarno
agreements;46
Convinced that the state of disquiet which obtains throughout the world
can only be dissipated by reinforcing their solidarity in such a way as
to strengthen confidence in peace in Europe;
Faithful to the obligations which they have assumed in virtue of the
Covenant of the League of Nations,47 the Locarno
Treaties, and the Briand-Kellogg Pact,48 and taking
into account the Declaration of the renunciation of force, the principle
of which was proclaimed in the declaration signed at Geneva on the 11th
December, 1932,49 by their delegates at the
Disarmament Conference and adopted on the 2nd March, 1933, by the
Political Commission of that Conference;50
Anxious to give full effect to all the provisions of the Covenant of the
League of Nations, while conforming to the methods and procedure [Page 418] laid down therein, from which
they have no intention of departing;
Mindful of the rights of every State, which cannot be affected without
the consent of the interested party;
Have resolved to conclude an agreement with these objects, and have
appointed as their plenipotentiaries:51
The President of the German Reich:
The President of the French Republic:
His Majesty the King of Great Britain, Ireland and the British Dominions
beyond the Seas, Emperor of India: for Great Britain and Northern
Ireland:
His Majesty the King of Italy:
Who, having exchanged their full powers, found in good and due form, have
agreed as follows:—
Article 1
The High Contracting Parties will consult together as regards all
questions which appertain to them. They undertake to make every effort
to pursue, within the framework of the League of Nations, a policy of
effective co-operation between all Powers with a view to the maintenance
of peace.
Article 2
In respect of the Covenant of the League of Nations, and particularly
articles 10, 16 and 19, the High Contracting Parties decide to examine
between themselves and without prejudice to decisions which can only be
taken by the regular organs of the League of Nations, all proposals
relating to methods and procedure calculated to give due effect to these
articles.
Article 3
The High Contracting Parties undertake to make every effort to ensure the
success of the Disarmament Conference and, should questions which
particularly concern them remain in suspense on the conclusion of that
Conference, they reserve the right to re-examine these questions between
themselves in pursuance of the present agreement with a view to ensuring
their solution through the appropriate channels.
Article 4
The High Contracting Parties affirm their desire to consult together as
regards all economic questions which have a common interest [Page 419] for Europe and particularly for its
economic restoration, with a view to seeking a settlement within the
framework of the League of Nations.
Article 5
The present agreement is concluded for a period of ten years from the
date of its entry into force.
If, before the end of the eighth year, none of the High Contracting
Parties shall have notified to the others his intention to terminate the
agreement, it shall be regarded as renewed and will remain in force
indefinitely, each of the High Contracting Parties possessing in that
event the right to terminate it by a declaration to that effect on
giving two years’ notice.
Article 6
The present agreement, drawn up in English, French, German and Italian,
of which the French text prevails in case of divergence, shall be
ratified and the ratifications shall be deposited at Rome as soon as
possible. The Government of the Kingdom of Italy will deliver to each of
the High Contracting Parties a certified copy of the procès-verbaux of deposit.
The present agreement will enter into force as soon as all the
ratifications52 have been deposited.
It shall be registered at the League of Nations in conformity with the
Covenant of the League.
Done at Rome, the [7th of June 1933] in a single copy, which will remain
deposited in the archives of the Government of the Kingdom of Italy:
certified copies will be delivered to each of the High Contracting
Parties.
In faith whereof the above-mentioned plenipotentiaries have signed the
present agreement.
