ECONOMIC

AVIATION

INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION RELATING TO THE REGULATION OF AERIAL NAVIGATION

Sweden

By a communication dated September 23, 1930, the SecretaryGeneral of the International Commission for Air Navigation informed the Secretary of State that on July 21, 1930, Sweden ratified the protocol of June 15, 1929, relative to amendments to the air convention signed at Paris, October 13, 1919.1

COMMERCE

INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION FOR THE ABOLITION OF IMPORT AND EXPORT PROHIBITIONS AND RESTRICTIONS

The Secretary-General of the League of Nations has brought to the notice of the Governments signatories of the protocol of December 20, 1929, concerning the entry into force of the convention for the abolition of import and export prohibitions and restrictions, the views of certain countries concerning the advisability of re-examining the present situation regarding the international convention for the abolition of import and export prohibitions and restrictions, signed at Geneva, November 8, 1927. The action of the SecretaryGeneral was in accordance with a suggestion made in a note 2 of the Italian Government which reads in part as follows:

If... the League of Nations, on the basis of the information obtained from the Governments signatories of the Paris protocol of December 20, 1929, were ready to summon the states concerned to reconsider the present situation, the Italian Government would examine the advisability of taking part in this meeting.

Extracts from the replies of the various countries to the circular letter of the Secretary-General of the League are, in translation, as follows:

1 See Bulletin No. 10, July, 1930, p. 10.

'The Secretary-General of the League of Nations circulated this note under No. C.L.183.1930.II, July 23, 1930.

Austria

The Federal Government would be prepared to take part in a meeting called by the League of Nations to re-examine the present situation regarding the International Convention of November 8, 1927, for the abolition of import and export prohibitions and restrictions. The Federal Government assumes that the League of Nations would, in this event, invite not only the signatories of the Paris protocol of December 20, 1929, but all the states represented at the conference at which the protocol was drawn up.

Belgium

The Belgian Government has noted this communication and likewise the declaration of the Italian Government with regard to its participation in any further meeting for the reconsideration of the 1927 convention. In this matter the Belgian Government adopts the same attitude as the Italian Government.

Denmark

In your note C.L.183.1930.II of July 28, last, you requested my Government to inform you of its views on the last paragraph of the Italian Government's note of July 5, relating to a suggested conference of the states concerned to reconsider the present situation in respect of the convention of November 8, 1927, on the abolition of import and export prohibitions and restrictions.

In reply, I have the honor to inform you on behalf of my Government that it agrees to this proposal and is willing to be represented at such a conference.

France

I have considered with particular attention the last passage of this note (Italian note), referring to the summoning of a fresh conference, with regard to which you request me to inform you of the French Government's view.

In spite of its desire that the convention should be put in force between all the states by which it has been ratified, the French Government is not sure that it would be advisable immediately to adopt the method which the Italian Government appears to suggest.

Negotiations in recent months have shown the great complexity of the question and the obstacles to be overcome. Moreover, the serious consequences which might result from a fresh failure should not be overlooked. Would it not be advisable, before summoning a fresh conference, to make sure that there are good prospects of success? The next assembly of the League of Nations might facilitate semi-official conversations on the matter, which would enable the Governments concerned to express an opinion with a full knowledge of the facts.

Germany

The German Government is of opinion that a fresh study of the present situation by the states concerned would not be worth while unless a change has taken place in the circumstances owing to which most of the contracting states had by July 1, 1930, ceased

to be bound by the convention. If an inquiry among the Governments concerned shows that such a change has occurred, the German Government is prepared to take part in fresh discussions. It thinks proper to remark, however, that should a new convention be concluded, Germany would find it necessary to submit the question anew to the legislative assemblies.

Great Britain

I am to state that His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom doubt whether, in existing circumstances, any further conference in regard to the convention as suggested by the Italian Government, could usefully be held.

Norway

The Norwegian Government have no objection, in case the general feeling should be in favor of so doing, to the convening of a conference, as mentioned in the said circular letter, with a view to having examined the situation created by the fact that a majority of the signatory powers have declared themselves not bound by the convention relating to the abolition of import and export restrictions. Portugal

The Portuguese Government would be prepared to send representatives to the meeting suggested by the Italian Government. Switzerland

We have the honor to inform you that after discussion with the federal services concerned we consider that the Economic Committee should, at its next meeting, examine the present situation and make such proposals as it may deem necessary.

REPORT OF THE UNITED STATES ON STEPS TAKEN TO GIVE EFFECT TO THE PROVISIONS OF THE CONVENTION

On September 15, 1930, the Secretary-General of the League of Nations communicated, at the request of the Secretary of State, to the parties of the international convention for the abolition of import and export prohibitions and restrictions, the following report on the steps taken to give effect to the provisions of the convention, furnished by the Government of the United States in accordance with the provisions of Article 13 of the convention:

The convention for the abolition of import and export prohibitions and restrictions contains no provision the observance of which on the part of the United States of America necessitated the alteration. of any law or regulation in force in this country. The deposit of the ratification of the United States having been duly effected, no steps, such as are contemplated by article 13, were necessary in order to give effect in the United States to the provisions of the convention from and after its effective date, as determined pursuant to its provisions and the provisions of the protocol concerning the entry into force of the convention, as signed on behalf of the United States by authority of the President on December 20, 1929.

The convention for the abolition of import and export prohibitions and restrictions thus came into force in respect of the United States on January 1, 1930. On March 6, 1930, the President proclaimed the convention, at the same time approving the protocol of December 20, 1929, and, in the form usually employed in the proclamation of the treaties of the United States, formally made public the text of the convention and the accompanying instruments to the end that every article and clause thereof might be observed and fulfilled with good faith by the United States and the citizens thereof, subject to the understandings stated by the Government of the United States in signing and in ratifying the same.

A copy of the President's proclamation of the convention for the abolition of import and export prohibitions and restrictions, published as Treaty Series, No. 811, and containing the text of the convention, is enclosed herewith.3

FINANCE

DEBT AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND GERMANY

The Secretary-General of the League of Nations informed the Secretary of State that under the terms of Article 18 of the Covenant of the League, the German Government had registered with the Secretariat August 22, 1930, the agreement between the United States and Germany for the settlement of the indebtedness of Germany to the United States on account of the award of the Mixed Claims Commission and costs of the United States Army of Occupation, signed at Washington, June 23, 1930.

INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION FOR THE SUPPRESSION OF COUNTERFEITING CURRENCY

Portugal

The Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary of Portugal at Berne, permanent delegate accredited to the League of Nations, deposited with the Secretariat of the League on September 18, 1930, the instrument of ratification of Portugal of the international convention and protocol for the suppression of counterfeiting currency, signed at Geneva, April 20, 1929, and of the optional protocol of the same date.

France

INDUSTRIAL PROPERTY

By note dated October 8, 1930, the Swiss Chargé d'Affaires ad interim at Washington, Mr. Etienne Lardy, informed the Secretary

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of State that the French Embassy at Berne had notified the Swiss Federal Council of the adherence of France to the following conventions:

Convention for the protection of industrial property, signed

at Paris, March 20, 1883, as revised at Brussels, December 14, 1900, at Washington, June 2, 1911, and at The Hague, November 6, 1925;

Arrangement regarding the suppression of false marks of origin on merchandise, signed at Madrid, April 14, 1891, as revised at The Hague, November 6, 1925;

Convention governing the international registration of trade marks, signed at Madrid, April 14, 1891, as revised at The Hague, November 6, 1925;

Arrangement concerning the international deposit of industrial designs and models, signed at The Hague, November 6, 1925.

The French Government also adhered to the above-mentioned acts in the name of the Sultan of Morocco, for the French zone of the Shereefian Empire and for Tunis in the name of the Bey of Tunis.

These adherences took effect on October 20, 1930.

Free City of Danzig

The Legation of Poland at Berne, by order of the Polish Government, which, under the provisions of article 104 (6) of the treaty of Versailles, undertakes the conduct of the foreign relations of the Free City of Danzig, has informed the Swiss Federal Council of the accession of the Free City of Danzig, effective October 29, 1930, to the arrangement regarding the suppression of false marks of origin on merchandise, signed at Madrid, April 14, 1891, as revised at The Hague, November 6, 1925.

NAVIGATION

INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON THE UNIFICATION OF BUOYAGE AND LIGHTING OF COASTS

The opening meeting of the International Conference on the Unification of Buoyage and Lighting of Coasts was held under the auspices of the League of Nations, in the "Portugal" Hall of the Geographical Society, rua Eugenio Santos, Lisbon, on October 6, 1930. The subsequent meetings of the conference were held at the Palacio do Congresso. The conference, at which more than twenty states were represented, had for its principal purpose to bring about an agree