840.00 Economic Non-Aggression/8
The Minister in Switzerland (Wilson) to the Secretary of
State
Berne, September 30, 1931.
[Received
October 8.]
No. 2260
L. N. No. 2136
Sir: Referring to the Legation’s telegram No.
173 dated September 30, 12 noon, 1931,36b I have the honor to transmit herewith a
communication addressed to you on September 29, 1931 by the Secretary of
the League of Nations, inviting the American Government to participate
in a special Committee which has been set up to study a Pact of economic
non-aggression. The enclosures to this communication are also being
forwarded, as listed.
Respectfully yours,
For the Minister:
Winthrop S.
Greene
Third Secretary of
Legation[Enclosure]
The Secretary-General of the League of
Nations (Drummond) to the Secretary of State
Geneva, September 29,
1931.
Sir: At a recent meeting of the Commission
of Enquiry for European Union, the Delegate of the Union of Soviet
Socialist Republics submitted to the Commission a Draft Protocol for
a Pact of Economic Non-Aggression, of which I have the honour to
attach a copy (C.354.M.153.1931.VII). The Commission of Enquiry
decided, after some debate, that the best method of studying this
proposal was to set up a special Committee for the purpose and
accordingly asked the Assembly’s approval therefor. The Assembly, in
approving this suggestion, decided that the proposal for a Pact of
Economic Non-Aggression was of world wide importance and that the
Committee to study it should include not only the States to be named
by the Commission of Enquiry for European Union, but also certain
non-European Powers to be chosen from amongst the Members of the
Assembly. At the same time, the Assembly decided to request the
Council to invite the Government of the United States of America to
send a representative to the Committee if that Government considers
it desirable.
The States chosen from the Commission of Enquiry for European Union
include the following: Belgium, Czechoslovakia, Estonia, France,
Finland, Germany, Great Britain, Greece, Italy, Latvia,
[Page 606]
Poland, Roumania, Spain,
Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, the U. S. S. R., Yugoslavia.
The States named by Assembly include the following: Australia,
Canada, Chile, China, India, Japan, Uruguay.
In accordance with this Resolution of the Assembly, the Council at
its meeting today authorised me to extend this invitation to your
Government. I enclose herewith the relevant documents and beg to add
that the first meeting will take place on Monday, November 2nd next,
at 11 a.m., at the Secretariat.
I have [etc.]
[Subenclosure]
Draft Protocol of Economic Non-Aggression
Proposed by the Government of the Union of Soviet Socialist
Republics
The representatives of the undersigned European countries,
Recognising that:
- (a)
- The mitigation of the crisis which has overtaken the
national economy of most countries requires, in addition to
abstention from war as a means for the solution of
international conflicts, the complete cessation of all forms
of economic aggression, both avowed and concealed, by any
countries or groups of countries, against any other
countries or groups of countries;
- (b)
- The cessation of economic aggression is an essential
condition for the peaceful co-operation of States in the
sphere of economics, irrespective of their
political-economic systems;
- (c)
- The cessation of economic aggression would help to put an
end to the present atmosphere of mistrust, uncertainty and
alarm, weighing so heavily upon the economic
position;
And hoping that all other countries inspired by their example will
join this Protocol,
Have decided to recommend their Governments to sign the following
Protocol:
- 1.
- The contracting parties once more solemnly confirm the
principle, proclaimed at the International Economic
Conference of 1927,37
of the peaceful coexistence of countries, irrespective of
their social-political and economic systems.
- 2.
- The parties undertake in their mutual relations to forego
any discrimination whatever, and to regard as incompatible
with the principles of the present Protocol the adoption and
application in their respective countries of a special
system directed against one or more of the countries signing
the present Protocol or not applicable to all other
countries.
[Page 607]
This Protocol will be ratified and come into force between those of
the contracting parties who give in their ratification papers to the
President of the Commission for the study of a European Union.
This Protocol may be subscribed to by all States in the world.
Notification of adherence will be given to the President of the
Commission for the study of a European Union, and it will
immediately come into force between the State subscribing to it, and
all other parties to it.
The President of the Commission for the study of a European Union
will notify all parties to the Protocol of every new ratification or
of every adherent, as soon as ratification papers have been
received.
