724.3415/3810: Telegram
The Consul at Geneva (Gilbert) to the Secretary of
State
Geneva, June 8, 1934—1
p.m.
[Received 1:50 p.m.]
144. Consulate’s 142 June 8, 11 a.m., paragraph 4(b). The following is the text of the draft “obligation”:
- “1. The representatives of the governments of (left
blank).
- 2. Seeing that notwithstanding the efforts made for
pacific settlement of the conflict between Bolivia and
Paraguay hostilities have continued for nearly 2
years;
- 3. Seeing that the supply from abroad of arms,
munitions and war material facilitates the prolongation
of these hostilities;
- 4. Seeing, therefore, that pending settlement of the
conflict in accordance with the Covenant, and subject to
any recommendation which may subsequently be made by the
Council of the League of Nations, it is desirable that
measures should be taken by the Governments on their
territories to prevent the supply to the two parties of
arms, war material, aeroplanes, aeroplane motors,
separate parts thereof and munitions either by public
authorities or by private enterprises or individuals
whether nationals or foreigners;
- 5. Noting that the Governments of the United States of
America, the Argentine Republic, the United States of
Brazil, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern
Ireland and the Helvetic Confederation have declared
that they have already taken such legislative or other
measures as they consider appropriate and that Austrian
law prohibits export of war material of every
kind;
- 6. Seeing that the Governments of the following
countries: Canada, China, Denmark, Spain, Guatemala,
Irish Free State, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxemburg, Mexico,
Panama, Netherlands, Portugal, Sweden, Uruguay,
Yugoslavia have declared themselves ready to take such
measures for the same purpose without making their
consent conditional on other governments consenting to
take such measures and that the Governments of
Australia, Belgium, Chile, Finland, France, Italy,
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Norway, Peru,
Poland and Czechoslovakia have made their consent
conditional on other governments consenting to take such
measures;
- 7. Seeing that thus agreement on the principle has
already been reached between a large number of
governments;
- 8. Announce the intention of the governments which
they represent to take immediately on their territories,
if they have not already done so, measures adequate for
the purpose in view, subject to the right of each
government concerned, to reexamine its position in case
any government should omit to take or to enforce the
necessary measures;
- 9. Express the hope that the other governments which
have declared their readiness to associate themselves
with these measures will be so good as immediately to
take measures for this purpose and that the governments
not mentioned in the present declarations will be so
good as to take measures to prevent their territories
from being utilized for supply of the articles above
enumerated.”
