710.D4/203

The Minister in Guatemala (McMillin) to the Secretary of State

No. 93

Sir: With reference to your No. 397 of June [July] 16, 1920 in which you inquire concerning the reasons for the denunciation by the Guatemalan Government of the Trade-Mark Convention signed by it at Buenos Aires, I have the honor to inform you that the Legation is in receipt of a note from the Foreign Office which says that,

“Said pact was denounced by the former Government, and from the investigations made, it appears that it was considered that the Convention was one-sided in its operation. Guatemalans are not registering trade-marks abroad and therefore all the benefits of the Convention are derived by foreign merchants and manufacturers and the burdens and disadvantages are borne by Guatemalans alone.

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I should add that the Central Executive Council of the High Interamerican Commission has forwarded a note to this Government asking for its reconsideration of the matter and my Government has sought the opinion of the Council of State.”

I have [etc.]

Benton McMillin