500.A14/670a
The Secretary of State to the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations (Pittman)
My Dear Senator Pittman: I was greatly disappointed to learn this morning that the Senate had accepted Senator King’s reservation19 to the Arms Traffic Convention of 1925. After our telephone conversation on Wednesday, I had hoped that you might find it possible to bring about the defeat of that reservation.
This reservation is, I feel sure, based upon a misconception of the terms of the Convention and upon a lack of knowledge of the geographical and political situation in the region of the Persian Gulf. It is highly objectionable in substance in that it would appear to recognize alleged Persian rights, which neither this Government nor any of the European Governments would be prepared to recognize. The Persian Gulf is approximately 500 miles long, with an average width of 200 miles. The Straits of Hormuz at the entrance are over 50 miles wide. The Gulf is in no sense an inland body of water; it is a large and important arm of the Sea, of which the shores are shared [Page 460] by eight powers. Persia has no rights beyond the three mile limit which are not shared by all the other powers on the globe. There seems to be a vague idea in some quarters that the Persian Gulf belongs to Persia because of its name. On this theory Mexico would exercise sovereign rights over the Gulf of Mexico, Japan over the Sea of Japan, India over the Indian Ocean, et cetera, et cetera. There is nothing in the Convention which grants any special privileges in the matter of search to any of the Signatory Powers and Persia could share those privileges by ratifying the Convention. Territorial waters are specifically excluded from the zone in which the right of search may be exercised.
Apart from its specific substance, the reservation is objectionable in that such a reservation by this Government would postpone indefinitely the coming into effect of the Convention, as we could never conceivably obtain consent to this reservation on the part of other signatory powers. The putting into effect of this Convention is an essential item in the announced foreign policy of the President and an item in which he has expressed particular interest.
I should greatly appreciate it if you could find it possible to bring about a reconsideration of this reservation and the ratification of the Convention without it. In compliance with my instructions, Mr. Joseph C. Green of the Division of Western European Affairs, has already spoken to you in regard to this reservation and I have directed him to hold himself entirely at your disposition should you wish any further information concerning it or concerning the position of the Department in regard to it.
As Senator Robinson of Arkansas has spoken to me about this reservation, I am writing him also in regard to it.
Sincerely yours,