550.S1/918
Resolution17
The Governments of the United Kingdom, Germany, Belgium, United States of America, France, Italy, Japan and Norway, represented on the Organising Committee for the Monetary and Economic Conference, convinced that it is essential for the successful conclusion of the Conference that the measures of all kinds which at the present time misdirect and paralyse international trade be not intensified pending an opportunity for the Conference to deal effectively with the problems created thereby, recognize the urgency of adopting at the beginning of the Conference a tariff truce, the provisions of which shall be laid down by common agreement.
The said Governments, being further convinced that immediate action is of greater importance, themselves agree, and strongly urge all other Governments participating in the Conference to agree, that they will not before the 12th of June nor during the proceedings of the Conference, adopt any new initiatives which might increase the many varieties of difficulties now arresting international commerce, subject to the proviso that they retain the right to withdraw from this agreement at any time after July 31st, 1933, on giving one month’s previous notice to the Conference.
One of the main motives which brings the Governments together in Conference is to surmount the obstacles to international trade above referred to; the said Governments therefore urge all other Governments represented at the Conference to act in conformity with the spirit of this objective.*
- From League of Nations, Council Committee for the Organisation of the Monetary and Economic Conference, Minutes of the Meeting, … May 12, 1933, p. 10.↩
- Note.—It is understood that action taken in accordance with the considerations set out in Part I. B. Sub-Section 2, of the Draft Annotated Agenda submitted by the Preparatory Commission of Experts (C.48.M.18.1933) would not be in conflict with this Resolution. [Footnote in the original.]↩