GENERAL AMERICAN PARTICIPATION IN THE INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE FOR CONTROL OF THE TRAFFIC IN HABIT-FORMING DRUGS-Continued Date and Subject Page 1924 Jan. 14 (C. L. 5. 1924. XI) Feb. 9 (12) Feb. 21 May 13 (153) May 21 (271) Sept. 11 (41) Sept. 11 (163) From the Secretary General of the League of Nations Resolutions of the Council of the League (texts printed) setting the first Monday in November as date of the first conference and the third Monday in November as date of the second conference, and instructing the Secretary General to invite to the second conference all members of the League and all parties to the 1912 convention. Invitation to the United States to be represented at the second conference and information concerning the setting up of a preparatory committee to draft the program, the committee to be nominated by the Advisory Committee and to consist of six members, including one U. Š. representative. From the Minister in Switzerland (tel.) Personnel of the preparatory committee; necessity for To the American Representative on the Preparatory Committee To the Ambassador in France (tel.) Instructions to make informal representations to France con- From the Ambassador in France (tel.) French renewal of assurances of cooperation with other Instructions to express the hope that Peru will be represented To the High Commissioner in Turkey (tel.) Note for Turkish Government (text printed), expressing the hope that Turkey will participate in the international opium conference and will cooperate in measures to restrict the production and transportation of raw opium. Sept. 15 (83) Sept. 17 (28) (Footnote: Information received October 24 that Turkey had appointed a delegate to the conference.) 99 To the Chargé in Persia (tel.) Note for Persian Government (text printed), expressing the hope that Persia will participate in the international opium conference and will cooperate in measures to restrict the production and transportation of raw opium. From the Minister in Bolivia (tel.) Information that Bolivia has appointed a delegate to the opium conference, but considers it impossible to restrict cultivation of the coca leaf plant. 100 AMERICAN Date and Number GENERAL PARTICIPATION IN THE INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE FOR CONTROL OF THE TRAFFIC IN HABIT-FORMING DRUGS-Continued 1924 Sept. 17 (120) From the Chargé in Persia (tel.) 100 Information that Persia has appointed a representative to the opium conference; that the Legation will submit a full report on opium situation in Persia. Undated [Rec'd Oct. 15] From the Secretary General of the League of Nations (tel.) 101 Oct. 15 (78) To the Minister in Switzerland (tel.) 101 Instructions to inform the Secretary General of the League that the United States accepts the invitation to be represented at the opium conference. Oct. 23 (300) Oct. 25 (84) Nov. 19 (1118) Nov. 25 From the Ambassador in Peru Foreign Office note stating that the Peruvian Chargé at Prague will represent Peru at the opium conference and that the question of restricting cultivation of the coca leaf plant has been communicated to appropriate authorities. To the Minister in Switzerland (tel.) List of American delegates to the opium conference; instructions to notify the Secretary General of the League and also appropriate Swiss authorities. From the British Ambassador Information concerning the adjournment of the conference Information that the British note has been telegraphed to Undated Suggestions of the United States Presented to the Second Opium Dec. A text of the international opium convention of 1912 so amended as to show all the additions and deletions desired by the United States. 4 From the Consul at Geneva (tel.) From Porter: Report that U. S. suggestions for carrying out chapter 2 of the 1912 convention had not so far been presented to second conference, as the first conference had not yet completed its labors or adopted an agreement; that the U. S. delegation had reserved its right to amend the agenda of the second conference if the first conference failed to reach a satisfactory agreement; that first conference had confessed itself unable to set date for eventual suppression of use of prepared opium; that British and Japanese had reached an agreement on transit of opium through Hongkong. 101 102 102 103 104 115 GENERAL AMERICAN PARTICIPATION IN THE INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE FOR CONTROL OF THE TRAFFIC IN HABIT-FORMING DRUGS-Continued Date and Subject Page 1924 Dec. 5 Dec. 8 Dec. 12 Dec. 17 1925 Feb. 1 Feb. 2 Undated [Rec'd Feb. 6] To the Consul at Geneva (tel.) For Porter: British aide-mémoire, December 3 (text printed) holding as outside scope of conference the U. S. suggestions concerning restriction of production and distribution of raw opium to use for medical or scientific purposes only and progressive suppression of use of prepared opium; suggestion that the U. S. delegate support the British delegate in a proposal for a commission with an American chairman to investigate and report on further measures for repression. Department's intention to refuse to acquiesce in the British suggestions and to intimate that questions should be determined by conference itself. Request for comments. From the Consul at Geneva (tel.) From Porter: Opinion that the proposed U. S. reply to the British aide-mémoire would materially strengthen the U. S. position; concurrence in the hope that the conference will not be jeopardized, and willingness to accept any reasonable proposal. To the British Embassy Inability of U. S. Government to acquiesce in the British suggestions; advisability of leaving question at issue entirely to the determination of the conference itself; assurance that the U. S. delegation will accord utmost consideration to any proposals made to the conference by the British delegation. From the Chairman of the American Delegation Transmittal of copy of agreement reached at the first conference, but not yet signed, with comments by Bishop Brent and himself. Opinion that the agreement is not in strict compliance with intent of chapter 2 of the 1912 convention and that United States should adopt a determined attitude. Information that the British, Dutch, and Japanese were prepared to go further than the agreement indicates, but that the agreement represents all the French and Portuguese were prepared to accede to. (Footnote: The agreement was signed at Geneva, February 11, 1925.) From the Consul at Geneva (tel.) From Porter: Conviction that the conference cannot reach an agreement satisfactory to the United States or which will be an improvement over the 1912 convention; recommendation that the U. S. delegation be withdrawn from the conference. To the Consul at Geneva (tel.) For Porter: Authorization to withdraw the U. S. delegation. Press statement to be issued by the Department announcing the withdrawal (text printed). Instructions concerning statement to be made to the conference. From the Chairman of the American Delegation (tel.) Statement to be enclosed in letter to the president of the conference (text printed), announcing the withdrawal of the U. S. delegation, giving reasons for the withdrawal, and stating the intention of the United States to continue efforts to suppress traffic in habit-forming drugs on the basis of the Hague convention of 1912. 112731-VOL. I-39-3 116 118 118 119 120 124 125 GENERAL REFUSAL BY THE UNITED STATES TO JOIN OTHER CREDITOR NATIONS IN FORMING AN INTERNATIONAL COMMISSION TO LIQUIDATE RELIEF LOANS MADE TO CERTAIN EUROPEAN STATES Date and Subject Page 1923 Sept. 26 From the French Chargé 127 Request for U. S. views respecting desirability of establishing a coordinating agency to deal with questions arising out of the liquidation of relief credits granted in 1920 and 1921 to governments in central and eastern Europe. Dec. 14 128 To the French Ambassador Inability to acquiesce in suggestion concerning establishment of a coordinating agency to deal with questions arising out of the liquidation of relief credits. Opinion that such questions are susceptible of adjustment through existing channels. From the British Chargé Information that the British Government, in conjunction with the French Government, has had under consideration the advisability of establishing a coordinating agency to deal with the relief credits question and has suggested that a Relief Credits Committee be set up. Hope that the United States will delegate a representative of the World War Foreign Debt Commission to attend meetings of the Committee in London. Memorandum on relief credits (text printed). To the British Ambassador Opinion that the establishment of a coordinating agency to deal with relief credits is unnecessary, as relief credit questions are susceptible of adjustment through existing channels. Information that the suggestion that a representative attend the meetings of the Relief Credits Committee has been referred to the World War Foreign Debt Commission. From the British Ambassador Inquiry whether it is yet possible for the United States to express views concerning delegating a representative of the World War Foreign Debt Commission to attend meetings of the Relief Credits Committee. To the British Ambassador Information that it has been found impracticable to have a representative of the World War Foreign Debt Commission attend the meetings of the Relief Credits Committee, but that the U. S. Ambassador at London will be instructed to keep in close touch with work of the Committee. To the Ambassador in Great Britain Transmittal of correspondence exchanged with the French and British representatives at Washington regarding coordinating agency for settling relief credits questions. Opinion that the United States should keep closely in touch with proceedings of the proposed Relief Credits Committee. Instructions to telegraph any significant developments in connection with the Committee. To the Ambassador in Great Britain (tel.) Instructions to have representative of the Embassy attend meetings of the Relief Credits Committee when it meets July 129 132 133 133 134 135 GENERAL NEGOTIATIONS ON BEHALF OF THE WORLD WAR FOREIGN DEBT COMMISSION for THE SETTLEMENT OF DEBTS OWED THE UNITED STATES BY FOREIGN GOVERNMENTS Date and Number Subject Page 1924 May 1 From the Lithuanian Chargé 135 Chargé's authorization to enter into negotiations with the May 12 To the Lithuanian Chargé 136 July 30 (118) Aug. 8 (38) Sept. 11 (43) Nov. 20 (183) Dec. 6 (88) Dec. 15 (116) Acknowledgment of the Chargé's note and information that its substance has been communicated to the Chairman of the Debt Commission, with whom it will be proper for the Chargé to enter into direct negotiations. From the Minister in Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania (tel.) Lithuanian Government's inquiry whether the United States would protest the ratification by the Lithuanian Assembly of the trade agreement with Germany which provides for mutual cancelation of all claims arising out of the war, German occupation, reparations, post-bellum supplies, etc. To the Minister in Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania (tel.) Memorandum for appropriate Lithuanian official (text printed) stating that the United States would not be disposed to raise any objection to ratification of the trade agreement with Germany, if assurance be given that an agreement will in fact be concluded providing for the refunding of the Lithuanian debt to the United States, similar to the agreement concluded between the United States and Finland. Treasury opinion that ratification of trade agreement with Germany seems to release security definitely provided for Lithuania's obligations. To the Minister in Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania (tel.) Debt Commission's denial of requests for inclusion of most- From the Chargé in Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania (tel.) Instructions to make representations to Greece, in connec- From the Minister in Greece (tel.) De M. Roussos' refusal to renounce Greek claim to remainder of 1918 credits, claiming that Canadian agreement did not affect these claims, as it covered materials purchased in Canada; his intention to go to Washington to discuss question of credits and refunding of debts. 136 137 138 139 139 141 |