Office of the Historian

211.51/77: Telegram

The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in France (Straus)

Washington, March 10, 1934—1 p.m.

96. Please inquire of Foreign Office whether French Government will agree to supplemental extradition treaty with United States adding to list of extraditable crimes “crimes or offenses against the bankruptcy laws” and if so whether it will instruct its Ambassador to United States to negotiate promptly for conclusion such treaty.

Please also advise American diplomatic missions accredited to following countries that it is desired they make similar inquiry: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxemburg, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Rumania, San Marino, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and Yugoslavia.

With respect to following countries inquiry should be broadened to include offense of “fraud or breach of trust by a bailee, banker, agent, factor, trustee, executor, administrator, guardian, director or officer of any company or corporation, or by anyone in any fiduciary position”: Belgium, Finland, Luxemburg, Netherlands, and San Marino.

It is desired if practicable to submit these treaties to the Senate before end present session.

Hull

[Supplementary extradition treaties or conventions with the following countries, of the nature described in the above instruction, were signed on the dates indicated:

In 1934:

  • Austria, May 19, Treaty Series No. 873; 49 Stat. 2710.
  • Bulgaria, June 8, Treaty Series No. 894; 49 Stat. 3250.
  • Estonia, October 10, Treaty Series No. 888; 49 Stat. 3190.
  • Finland, May 17, Treaty Series No. 871; 49 Stat. 2690.
  • Latvia, October 10, Treaty Series No. 884; 49 Stat. 3131.
  • Lithuania, May 17, Treaty Series No. 879; 49 Stat. 3077.
  • San Marino, October 10, Treaty Series No. 891; 49 Stat. 3198.
  • Sweden, May 17, Treaty Series No. 870; 49 Stat. 2688.

In 1935:

  • Belgium, June 20, Treaty Series No. 900; 49 Stat. 3276.
  • Czechoslovakia, April 29, Treaty Series No. 895; 49 Stat. 3253.
  • Luxemburg, April 24, Treaty Series No. 904; 49 Stat. 3355.
  • Poland, April 5, Treaty Series No. 908; 49 Stat. 3394.
  • Switzerland, January 10, Treaty Series No. 889; 49 Stat. 3192.

In 1936:

  • Denmark, May 6, Treaty Series No. 911; 50 Stat. 1308.
  • France, April 23, Treaty Series No. 909; 50 Stat. 1117.
  • Rumania, November 10, Treaty Series No. 916; 50 Stat. 1349.

In 1938:

  • Norway, February 1, Treaty Series No. 934; 53 Stat. 1561.

No supplementary extradition treaties such as contemplated were concluded with the following countries: Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, and Yugoslavia.]