be informed when President intends to ratify treaties as he thought inasmuch as Conference was called by United States the President should ratify first as a mere matter of courtesy if for no other reason. I told him that I would cable you for information. 500.A4a/81: Telegram WARREN The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Japan (Warren) [Paraphrase] WASHINGTON, July 28, 1922—1 p. m. 80. Your telegram no. 125, of July 27. You may inform the Minister of Foreign Affairs that the Senate has approved all Conference treaties and that President is ready to deposit formal ratification as soon as he is advised of similar readiness of other signatory Powers. President's act of ratification is purely formal and can be done at any time, but of course treaties will become effective only upon the deposit of ratifications as provided. In view of the possibility of some attempted reservation in France, it is desirable that the President should for the present withhold technical act of ratification. This, however, is a purely formal matter and does not in any way affect this Government's full approval of the treaties and readiness to deposit ratification as soon as other Powers are ready. 300.A4a/82: Telegram HUGHES The Ambassador in Japan (Warren) to the Secretary of State TOKYO, August 6, 1922—3 p. m. [Received 3: 45 p. m.] 129. Referring to Department's number 80, July 28, 1 p. m. I sent following to Foreign Minister, dated August 1st: "In my note number 129, dated May 8, 1922,65 I had the honor to inform Your Excellency that my Government is ready to deposit ratification of the Four-Power Treaty signed at Washington, December 13, 1921, and the supplementary treaty signed at Washington February 6, 1922, subject to the reservations and understandings set out in my note; and that my Government upon being informed of the readiness of the other signatory governments to deposit their ratifications will be pleased to fix a date for the depositing of ratifications as stipulated in the treaties. In our conversations the question has arisen as to the readiness of the President to ratify and deposit ratification of the treaties concluded at the Conference on the Limitation of Armaments to the ratification of which as you were advised in my note dated May 8, 1922, the Senate of the United States had consented. 65 See the Department's instruction of Apr. 4, 1922, p. 379. 167952-38-vol. I-32 I now have the honor to advise you that I am authorized by my Government to inform you that the President is ready to deposit ratification of all the treaties concluded at the Conference upon being advised of the readiness of the other signatory governments to deposit their ratifications; and that my Government when so advised will be pleased to fix a date for the depositing of ratifications as stipulated in the treaties. As stated in our recent conversation I will be pleased to receive from Your Excellency for transmission to my Government the information that the Imperial Japanese Government is similarly ready to deposit its ratifications of the four power treaty, the supplementary treaty and the treaties concluded at the Conference on the Limitation of Armaments." In reply I received following from the Minister for Foreign Affairs, dated August 5th: "In your note number 181 under date of the 1st instant Your Excellency has informed me that the President of the United States is ready to ratify and deposit ratifications of the Four-Power Treaty signed at Washington December 13, 1921, and the supplementary agreement to the said treaty signed at Washington February 6, 1922, subject to the reservations and understandings set out in Your Excellency's note number 129, dated May 8, 1922, as well as all other treaties concluded at the Conference of Washington on the Limitation of Armaments without any modification nor reservation; and that the President upon being informed of the readiness [of] the other signatory powers to deposit their ratifications will be pleased to fix a date for depositing the ratifications as stipulated in the treaties. I have the honor to inform Your Excellency that all the treaties above mentioned having been ratified on the part of this country on the 5th instant the Japanese Government have immediately taken steps to forward the instruments of ratification to the Japanese Chargé d'Affaires at Washington and consequently that they are ready to proceed with the deposit of the ratifications as soon as they shall be informed that the President has fixed a date for that purpose according to the stipulations of the respective treaties upon being advised of the readiness of all other signatory governments to effect the like deposit as stated in Your Excellency's note of the 1st instant." 500.A4b/60: Telegram WARREN The Ambassador in Great Britain (Harvey) to the Secretary of State [Paraphrase] LONDON, August 10, 1922-5 p.m. [Received August 10-1:32 p.m.] 351. I am informed by Foreign Office that all the Dominions as well as the British Government have approved all the Washington treaties and that it is expected that within the next few days the King's ratification on behalf of the whole Empire will be sent to Washington. HARVEY 500.A4a/88 Memorandum by the Under Secretary of State (Phillips) [WASHINGTON,] August 24, 1922. Mr. Chilton of the British Embassy informed me that the ratifications of the Washington treaties have been received from London. He wished to inquire whether we were prepared to exchange ratifications. I told him that in my opinion the ratifications ought to be held in the British Embassy until the appointed time for the joint deposit of ratifications at the Department. 500.A4/486 WILLIAM] P[HILLIPS] The Secretary of State to President Harding THE PRESIDENT: The undersigned the Secretary of State has received from the Senate a resolution adopted on December 11, 1922, reading as follows: "RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be, and he is hereby, requested to furnish the Senate information showing to what extent and by what nations the six treaties known as the Armament Conference Treaties, described in Senate Document 124, 67th Congress, 2d Session, have been ratified, and to give the date of ratification in each case by each country." In reply the Secretary of State has the honor to report to the President, with a view to the transmission of the information to the Senate, if the President's judgment approve thereof, as follows: The Department of State has been notified by the Diplomatic Missions of Great Britain and Japan at Washington that they had received the Instruments of ratification by their Governments of all six of the treaties signed at the Washington Conference on the Limitation of Armament, and that they were prepared to deposit the ratifications with the Government of the United States in conformity with the provisions of the treaties in that regard; and by the Legation of China at Washington that it had received the ratifications by the Government of China of the two treaties to which that Government is a Signatory, one relating to the treaties and policies to be followed in matters concerning China and the other relating to the Chinese Customs Tariff, and that that Legation was also prepared to deposit the Instruments of ratification. The date of the ratifications of Japan is stated to be August 5, 1922, and that of the ratifications of China, April 29, 1922. The Department is not informed of the date of the British Instruments of ratification, but the information regarding the receipt of the Instruments by the British Embassy and that Em bassy's readiness to deposit the ratifications was furnished to the Department on August 24, 1922. The Department of State is not informed that any of the treaties has been ratified by any of the other Signatory Powers. Respectfully submitted, WASHINGTON, December 14, 1922. CHARLES E. HUGHES DECISION BY THE UNITED STATES NOT TO PARTICIPATE IN THE GENOA CONFERENCE, APRIL 10-MAY 19, 1922 763.72119/11714: Telegram The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Great Britain (Harvey) WASHINGTON, December 27, 1921—5 p.m. 697. Your 998 December 23.1 It is the President's desire that you attend meeting of Supreme Council at Cannes as Observer for this Government, in accord with your original instructions." HUGHES 550 E 1/4: Telegram The Unofficial Observer at Cannes (Harvey) to the Secretary of State CANNES, January 6, 1922. The Supreme Council voted unanimously to call a conference of "economic and financial character ", in pursuance of resolutions adopted and appended. I did not participate. The Council also voted unanimously to invite the United States to send representatives to the conference, and directed President Briand to convey such invitation through me, which he has done. The conference will be held in Genoa early in March. Statements by Lloyd George and Briand have been given to press. There was singular unanimity and harmony throughout. The only discussion was over exact phrasing of resolutions submitted by British delegation. Few changes were made. The only reference to the United States was an expression of hope by Lloyd George that the great Republic of the West would see its way clear to lend its cooperation in the effort of rehabilitation and reconstruction. He took particular pains, how 1 Not printed. 2 See telegram no. 274, May 11, 1921, to the Ambassador in Great Britain, Foreign Relations, 1921, vol. 1, p. 14. ever, to add that the decision must rest wholly with the American Government and that he would not think of expressing an opinion of its action. All coincided tacitly in his attitude. There can be no question of their earnest desire for United States' participation. The effect of the Washington Conference in getting things done promptly was manifest. Resolutions in full follow: "The Allied Powers in conference are unanimously of opinion that an economic and financial conference should be summoned in February or early March to which all the powers of Europe including Germany, Russia, Austria, Hungary and Bulgaria should be invited to send representatives. They regard such [a] conference as an urgent and essential step towards the economic [re]construction of Central and Eastern Europe and they are strongly of opinion that the Prime Ministers of every nation should, if possible, attend it in person in order that action may be taken as promptly as possible upon its recommendations. The Allied Powers consider that the resumption of international trade throughout Europe and the development of the resources of all countries are necessary to increase the volume of productive employment and to relieve the widespread suffering of the European peoples. A united effort by the stronger powers is necessary to remedy the paralysis of the European system. This effort must include the removal of all obstacles in the way of trade, the provision of substantial credits for the weaker countries and the cooperation of all nations in the restoration of normal prosperity. The Allied Powers consider that the fundamental conditions, upon which alone this effort can be made with hope of success, may be broadly stated as follows: 1. Nations can claim no right [to] dictate to each other regarding the principles on which they are to regulate their system of ownership, internal economy and government. It is for every nation to choose for itself the system which it prefers in this respect. 2. Before, however, foreign capital can be made available to assist a country, foreign investors must be assured that their property and rights will be respected and the fruits of their enterprise secured to them. 3. This sense of security cannot be reestablished unless the governments of countries desiring foreign credit freely undertake (a) that they will recognize all public debts and obligations which have been or may be undertaken or guaranteed by the state, by municipalities, or by other public bodies as well as the obligation to restore or compensate all foreign interests for loss or damage caused to them when property has been confiscated or withheld (b) that they will establish a legal and judicial system which sanctions and enforces commercial and other contracts with impartiality. 4. An adequate means of exchange must be available and generally there must [be] financial and currency conditions which offer sufficient security for trade. |