500.A15A4 General Committee (Arms)/98: Telegram
The American Delegate ( Wilson ) to the Secretary of State
Geneva
, February 20, 1935—6 p.m.
[Received February 20—1:35 p.m.]
[Received February 20—1:35 p.m.]
984. See my 983, February 20, 5 p.m.
- 1.
- Now that the French have raised their point publicly, as reported in paragraph 1 of above telegram, it would be timely to receive as soon as convenient your general observations on despatch No. 109, February 12th.
- 2.
- Reference paragraph 3 of above telegram Ruspoli informs me that he feels the case might be met by the insertion of a proviso repeating article 7 of the Hague Convention of 190743 whereby the shipment of armaments to belligerents by manufacturers residing in neutral territories may not be considered an unneutral act and a further proviso that hence it is understood that the issue of a license for export by a government for such shipment should also not be considered an unneutral act.
We have not yet had opportunity for conversation on this subject with other delegations or for careful thought ourselves but invite your attention to the question which Ruspoli has raised.
Wilson