In addition to the provisions giving reciprocal rights of entry for
purposes of trade, the occasion is taken to propose the settlement
of a further difficulty connected with the conduct of trade between
the United States and Australia. I refer to the circuitous and
uneconomical routing of American exports to Australia which has been
occasioned by certain Australian customs regulations. Provisions
relating to this subject will be found in Article III of the
enclosed draft convention.
I shall be glad to arrange for discussions of the details of the
draft convention at the Embassy’s convenience.
[Enclosure]
Draft Commercial Convention Between the United
States of America and the Commonwealth of Australia
The President of the United States of America:
And His Majesty the King of Great Britain, Ireland and the
British Dominions beyond the Seas, Emperor of India, in respect
of the Commonwealth of Australia,
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Being desirous of encouraging the growth of trade between the
United States of America and the Commonwealth of Australia:
Have decided to conclude a convention for that purpose;
And have appointed as their Plenipotentiaries:
The President of the United States of
America:
And His Majesty the King of Great Britain,
Ireland and the British Dominions beyond the Seas, Emperor of
India, For the Commonwealth of Australia:
Who, having communicated their full powers found
in good and due form, have agreed upon the following
articles:
Article I
His Majesty’s subjects of Australian birth or parentage
ordinarily resident in the Commonwealth of Australia who conform
to the laws and regulations of the United States of America
shall be permitted to enter, travel and reside therein to carry
on trade between the United States of America and Australia.
Article II
Nationals of the United States of America who conform to the laws
and regulations of the Commonwealth of Australia shall be
permitted to enter, travel and reside therein to carry on trade
between Australia and the United States of America.
Article III
In determining the value of goods for duty purposes Australia
agrees that no greater amount of inland freight charges shall be
included in such value for duty than the actual amount of
freight charges that would be incurred if the goods were
forwarded from the point of origin of such goods to the nearest
point of exit from the United States.
Article IV
The provisions of the present convention shall be applicable to
all territories under the sovereignty, authority, or mandate of
the United States of America and the Commonwealth of Australia,
respectively, other than the Panama Canal Zone.
Article V
The present convention shall be ratified and the ratifications
shall be exchanged at Washington as soon as possible. It shall
come into force on the day of the exchange of ratifications and
shall be binding during a period of ten years from the date of
its coming into force.
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In case neither of the High Contracting Parties shall have given
notice to the other one year before the expiration of the said
period of ten years of an intention to terminate the convention,
it shall remain in force thereafter until the expiration of one
year from the date on which such notice of termination is
given.
In witness whereof the respective Plenipotentiaries have signed
the present convention in duplicate and have thereunto affixed
their seals.
Done at the city of Washington this . . . . . day of . . . . . .
., 1932.
