711.60p12A/8: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Minister at Riga (Coleman)
Washington, October 20, 1928—4
p.m.
60. Your despatch No. 5523, August 28, 1928.
- 1.
- Proposed additional article to arbitration treaty defining procedure to be followed for constituting tribunal if reference is to other than The Hague Court of Arbitration seems unnecessary. The requirement for a special agreement in each case affords opportunity to determine procedure appropriate to the case. Please endeavor to dissuade the Latvian and Estonian Governments from insisting upon such an article.
- 2.
- Proposed amendment to conciliation treaty so as to provide a method of appointment of fifth member of Commission in the event that the Contracting Parties fail to reach an agreement on such member also seems unnecessary. It is believed that situation would not arise in which Governments would be unable to agree on an acceptable national of a third state. Please bring this view to the attention of Latvian and Estonian Governments.
- 3.
- This Government desires that the treaties with Latvia and Estonia shall be uniform with those which it already has signed with other countries. While the Department desires that you bear in mind the principle of uniformity and to a certain extent use this principle in argument, it also desires that the argument be based principally on the reasons stated in above paragraphs one and two.
Clark