711.9212A/2
The Secretary of State to the Siamese Minister (Vijitavongs)
Sir: I have the honor to transmit herewith for the consideration of your Government and as a basis for negotiation drafts of treaties of arbitration and of conciliation between the United States and Siam.1
Both of the proposed treaties are identical in effect with treaties of arbitration and of conciliation which were signed at Washington on May 5, 1928, by representatives of the United States and Germany, and with similar treaties which have recently been concluded between the United States and other countries. The draft arbitration treaty resembles in some respects the arbitration treaty concluded between the United States and many countries beginning in 1908, but represents, in the opinion of this Government, a definite advance over the earlier formula. Substantially in the form submitted herewith, treaties have, during the last few months, been signed by the United States with France, Italy, Germany, Denmark, and Finland, respectively.2
The draft conciliation treaty is in all respects similar to the conciliation treaties negotiated in 1913 by this Government and made effective with many countries. During recent months such treaties have been signed by the United States with Germany and Finland, respectively.
I feel that the Governments of the United States and Siam have an opportunity, by adopting treaties such as those suggested herein, not only to promote friendly relations between the peoples of the two countries, but also to advance materially the cause of arbitration and the pacific settlement of international disputes. If your Government concurs in this view and is prepared to negotiate treaties along the lines of the two drafts transmitted herewith, I shall be glad to enter at once upon such discussions as may be necessary.
Accept [etc.]
- Drafts not printed.↩
- See Foreign Relations, 1928, vol. ii, Denmark, p. 720; Finland, p. 806; France, p. 816; Germany, p. 867; vol. iii, Italy, 102.↩