500.A14/680: Telegram

The Ambassador in Great Britain (Bingham) to the Secretary of State 25

391. Department’s 267, June 25, 6 p.m.26 Matter has been discussed with Foreign Office. They agree readily that reservation has no substantial significance but fear that its effect on intensely nationalist Persian Government will be to encourage them in allegedly preposterous claims to islands on Arabian coast of the Gulf, and render more difficult proper policing of its waters. They will instruct British Embassy at Washington to approach the Department informally with a view of ascertaining background and reasons for adoption of reservation. Officials of the Foreign Office with whom the matter was discussed did not appear to be greatly disturbed as to any general effect the reservation might have upon the enforcement of the convention nor did they think it had any technical significance which will require its acceptance by the other contracting parties. They seemed genuinely to feel however that Great Britain’s difficulties in dealing with the Persian Government would be greatly enhanced. They also appear unable to understand why the United States Senate felt it necessary to adopt the reservation as the convention impinges in no way on the sovereignty of Persia in her own territorial waters.

Bingham
  1. Telegram No. 292, July 10, 2 p.m., to the Ambassador in Great Britain, contained the following instruction: “Your No. 391, July 7, 1 p.m. Repeat to AmEmbassy, Paris and to American delegation, Geneva. Hull.”
  2. See last paragraph of telegram No. 251, June 25, 6 p.m., to the Ambassador in France, p. 464.