195/767
The Ambassador in France (Herrick) to the Secretary of State
[Received July 7.]
Sir: With reference to the Department’s instruction No. 1299 of January 13, 1925, regarding the proposal that the United States and France enter into an agreement whereby each would recognize the equivalence of French and American vessel inspection legislation, I have the honor to enclose herewith a copy and translation of a note from the Foreign Office dated June 20th.50
This note states in part that the 1902 agreement regarding vessel inspection is no longer effective, and that there should be substituted for it a more general accord, which should take into consideration the modifications which have been made since 1902 in French and American maritime legislation. In this connection, the note asks that duplicate copies of American laws concerning security of navigation and concerning hygiene on board commercial vessels be sent to the Foreign Office.
As regards the recognition of the American Bureau of Shipping, the note states that such recognition can only be accorded after an agreement has been concluded regarding the equivalence of French and American legislation.
I have [etc.]
Counselor of Embassy
- Not printed.↩