611.5531/587
The Chief of the Belgian Commercial
Delegation (
Forthomme
) to the Chief
of the Trade Agreements Section (
Grady
)
[Translation]
Washington
, February 4, 1935.
Dear Mr. Grady: I have the pleasure of
sending you herewith a draft of the letters which might be exchanged
under the hypothesis which we discussed the other evening.
[Page 107]
Mr. Culbertson has doubtless told you that I have received from
Brussels the statement of the last sacrifices which the Belgian
Government would be prepared to make in its keen desire to
contribute, together with the United States Government, toward the
reestablishment of a normal status of trade between nations. We can
discuss them during the meeting of tomorrow, Tuesday, at 3
o’clock.
The text of the “General Provisions” of which Mr. Culbertson also
spoke to me not having been transmitted to me until Saturday,
January 26, it is natural that the Belgian Government should not
have had time yet to take a position in regard thereto. But I shall
be very glad to go over them with you tomorrow.
Please accept [etc.]
[Enclosure—Translation]
Draft of Letters To Be Exchanged
16
Mr. Secretary of State: I have the
honor to advise Your Excellency that the Belgian Government,
being desirous of strengthening the traditional bonds of
friendship between the United States of America and the
Belgo-Luxemburgian Economic Union, and pending the conclusion of
a treaty of commerce, customs and navigation, has authorized me
to inform Your Excellency that the Belgo-Luxemburgian Economic
Union:
- (1)
- will grant to the United States of America, with
respect to commerce, customs and navigation, the same
treatment that is or may be granted to the most favored
foreign nation;
- (2)
- will grant entry into the Belgo-Luxemburgian Economic
Union the products of the soil or industry of the United
States of America listed in the first annex to the
present letter, subject to customs duties not exceeding
those indicated in that annex and, when necessary, with
quota figures not less than those which are also
indicated in the same annex,
on condition that the United States of America:
- (1)
- grant to the Belgo-Luxemburgian Economic Union, with
respect to commerce, customs and navigation, the same
treatment as that which is or may be granted to the most
favored foreign nation;
- (2)
- permit entry into the United States of America of the
products of the soil or industry of the
Belgo-Luxemburgian Economic Union listed in the second
annex to this letter, subject to customs duties not
exceeding those indicated in that annex.
It is understood that the regime indicated above will remain in
force until the expiration of a period of . . . . . months,
beginning on the day when one of the two governments shall have
given notice to the other of its intention to denounce the
agreement. In case of [Page 108]
monetary depreciation exceeding 15 percent of the present gold
value in either of the two countries, this period shall be
reduced to one month.
I take this occasion [etc.]
Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary of His
Majesty the King of the Belgians, Member of the Senate of
Belgium.
