final word of the Governments which have presented it. It would like, secondly, to be advised of the possibility of having accepted, afterward, the American proposal concerning the exercise by a belligerent military airplane of the right of visit against merchant vessels, which proposal appears at the place in the general report of the Commission where this question is discussed at length. Finally, the Netherlands Government recalls that its delegation on the Commission of Jurists, in the course of the meetings, raised objections to articles 50, 51, and 53 (i) (see for instance paragraphs 106, 107, and 137 of the procès-verbaux of the plenary sittings of the Commission of Jurists). The Netherlands Government could not summarily set these objections aside. It also wonders whether the provision of article 53 (g) does not require some modification to do away with the too absolute character of its present wording. The Royal Government would like to learn the opinion of the other interested powers on this point. It therefore reserves its attitude with respect to the whole of chapter VII. Concerning the proposed convention for the control of radio in time of war, the Royal Government takes the liberty of referring to the remarks made above regarding the two conventions to be concluded for the purpose of bringing into force the labors of the Commission of Jurists. With respect to the rules themselves for the control of radio in time of war, the Netherlands Government makes the following observations: In a general manner, and with the sole exception of article 6, it can accept these rules in principle. Concerning article 6, it would like to ask the interested Governments if they are not of the opinion that the period of one year mentioned in paragraph 3 of this article is not much too long, and, secondly, if they do not believe that it would be advisable to open up the possibility of recourse to an international court (preferably the Permanent Court of International Justice) in regard to the decisions of the national prize courts pronounced in cases falling under article 6 of these rules. It is only after having taken cognizance of the definite opinion of the other Governments that the Netherlands Government would care to make any definite statement on this subject, and it would be grateful if the American Government would be good enough to ask the other states-in the first place those which were represented on the Commission of Jurists to give their opinion in this connection. While awaiting with the greatest interest the remarks which the contents of this note will suggest to the Government of the United States, I seize this occasion [etc.] For the Minister: A. M. SNOUCK HURGRONJE The Secretary General 700.00116/230 The Ambassador in France (Herrick) to the Secretary of State No. 4941 PARIS, March 12, 1925. 85 SIR: With reference to my telegram No. 170 of March 11, 3 p. m.,8 I have the honor to transmit herewith a copy and translation of the reply from the French Foreign Office, dated March 10th, with regard to the two conventions proposed at The Hague on February 12, 1923, for the Control of Radio in Time of War and Rules for Aerial Warfare. I am forwarding a copy of this despatch with its enclosures to the American Embassy at Rome and the American Legation at The Hague for their information. I have [etc.] [Enclosure Translation] MYRON T. HERRICK The French Minister of Foreign Affairs (Herriot) to the American Ambassador (Herrick) [PARIS,] March 10, 1925. MR. AMBASSADOR: Your Excellency was good enough, in a letter dated February 4, 1924, to inform my predecessor that the Government of the United States of America proposed to incorporate in a new Convention the rules prepared by the Commission of Jurists which met at The Hague from December 11, 1922 to February 19, 1923. The French Government recognizes the very deep interest which this suggestion possesses, but an examination of the rules that have been proposed has shown that most of them reproduce solutions which have already been adopted by France and included either in the International Conventions already in force, such as The Hague Convention of 1907,8 or amongst the practices of international law sanctioned by custom. Other proposals, furthermore, would not be without objection, because, on many points, the innovations which they imply are not in conformity with certain principles, such as the freedom of the seas, or are open to criticism from other points of view. The provisions with regard to aerial warfare which the aforementioned Commission has more especially endeavored to regulate, are already included to a great extent in the Convention on Aerial Not printed. For texts of conventions concluded at the Second International Peace Conference, held at The Hague, 1907, see Malloy, Treaties, 1776-1909, vol. II, pp. 2220-2389. Navigation of October 13, 1919,87 but at times have a tendency to deviate therefrom. The ratification by the United States of the Air Convention of 1919, which they have already signed, would have the advantage of putting immediately into practice the provisions already accepted for several years and which have received a contractual basis, while the present suggestion of the Government of the United States would risk delaying their application by raising fresh discussions, either as to fundamental principles or form, which might be lengthy, in view of the number of States which would be called upon to take part therein. Please accept [etc.] HERRIOT 700.00116/233 The Chargé in Great Britain (Sterling) to the Secretary of State No. 1166 LONDON, April 9, 1925. SIR: I have the honor to refer to the Embassy telegram No. 115, of April 9th, 11 a.m.,88 relating to two proposed conventions relative to the rules for the control of radio in time of war, and in this connection to forward a copy of the Foreign Office note mentioned therein, in triplicate. I have [etc.] [Enclosure] F. A. STERLING The British Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (Chamberlain) to the American Chargé (Sterling) No. T 3463/757/377 [LONDON,] 6 April, 1925. SIR: His Majesty's Government have given careful consideration to the proposals of the United States Government to my predecessor contained in Mr. Kellogg's note of the 13th February, 1924, enquiring whether His Majesty's Government would be disposed to conclude with the United States of America and certain other powers two conventions such as were proposed by the United States delegation at The Hague on February 12th, 1923, relative to the rules for the control of radio in time of war and for aerial warfare, drawn up at The Hague in 1922-23. I regret that owing to the necessity of an exhaustive examination of the many important questions involved, I have been obliged to delay replying to Mr. Kellogg's above-mentioned and subsequent notes. 2. I now request you to inform your Government that His Majesty's Government, while warmly appreciating the friendly and humanitarian motives which have prompted these proposals, have decided to await further international discussion on this question before formulating their considered views on the Report of The Hague Commission. I have [etc.] AUSTEN CHAMBERLAIN NEGOTIATIONS ON BEHALF OF THE WORLD WAR FOREIGN DEBT COMMISSION FOR THE SETTLEMENT OF DEBTS OWED THE UNITED STATES BY FOREIGN GOVERNMENTS & 89 Belgium 855.51/344 The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Belgium (Phillips) No. 111 WASHINGTON, March 26, 1925. SIR: With reference to your despatch No. 50 of August 18, 1924,90 and other correspondence regarding the repayment by Belgium of certain debts owed to Great Britain, and the bearing thereof on the obligation of Belgium to make corresponding payments to the Government of the United States, the Department transmits herewith the text of a note to the Belgian Government which you are instructed to present at the first available opportunity. Please inform the Department by telegraph of the date of the note which you present pursuant to this instruction. I am [etc.] FRANK B. KELLOGG [Enclosure] Text of Note To Be Presented to the Belgian Foreign Office' 91 Under instructions from my Government, I have the honor to refer to certain correspondence exchanged in 1919 between representatives of the Government of Belgium and representatives of the Treasury Department of the United States regarding the conditions under which the Government of the United States was prepared to make further advances to the Government of Belgium. I have been instructed to refer in particular to a letter dated February 5, 1919, from the Belgian Minister in Washington to the then Secretary of the Treasury, to a letter dated April 22, 1919, from Mr. Rathbone, Assistant Secretary of the Treasury, to Mr. Symons, Counsellor of the Belgian Legation, to Mr. Symons' reply of May 14, 1919, and to Continued from Foreign Relations, 1924, vol. 1, pp. 135–142. "Not printed. "In telegram No. 32, Apr. 22, noon, the Ambassador in Belgium reported the delivery of this note to the Belgian Foreign Office on that day (file No. 855.51/396). letters dated June 15, 1919, and July 8, 1919, from Mr. van den Ven, Special Delegate of the Belgian Minister of Finance in Paris, to Mr. Davis of the United States Treasury. The letter dated February 5, 1919, from the Belgian Minister in Washington to the then Secretary of the Treasury, was as follows: "In reply to your letter of January 18th, I have much pleasure in informing you, on receipt of telegraphic advice from my Government to that purpose, that the Belgian Government willingly grants the request from the United States Treasury that advances which it has made or which would be made to Belgium for food and relief purposes during the period which has elapsed since the cessation of hostilities, will receive treatment as favorable as that accorded to advances which may be made to my Government by the British or French Governments for reconstruction purposes." The letter of April 22, 1919, from Mr. Rathbone to Mr. Symons was in part as follows: "I take pleasure in informing you that the Secretary of the Treasury is prepared from time to time to establish further credits in favor of your Government to be availed of from time to time against obligations of your Government in a corresponding amount at such times and to such extent as shall be determined by the Secretary of the Treasury up to the amounts hereafter indicated, for the purposes hereinafter set forth and on the understanding herein expressed."2 "The amounts of the credits which the Secretary of the Treasury is prepared to establish in favor of your Government, as aforesaid, (subject to reduction as hereinafter stated) and the purposes for which the same are to be availed of, are as follows: "(a) $2,150,000 or such lesser amount as may be sufficient with the unexpended credit balance in favor of your Government for relief purposes in the amount of $28,300,000, to provide for the amounts which shall become due from your Government to the Commission for Relief in Belgium in connection with the April program of said Commission and to defray the cost of the purchase in the United States of not exceeding 80 tons of wheat and 10 tons of lard, and shipping charges in respect thereof to the extent such payment is made to the United States Shipping Board on ships under the control of the United States Shipping Board; "(b) $1,000,000 or such lesser amount as may be sufficient to provide for such purchases of your Government in the United States up to June 1, 1919, for military supplies as may from time to time be approved by the Treasury; "(c) An additional sum sufficient to pay the interest due on May 15, 1919, on obligations of your Government held by the United States.92 92 The omission which follows was indicated in the original note. |