[The American Chargé d'Affaires ad interim to the Minister of Foreign Affairs.] No. 444 PRAGUE, October 29, 1923. As indicated in my note dated July 21st, 1923, No. 388, my Government is desirous of negotiating with the Government of the Czechoslovak Republic a treaty of amity, commerce and consular rights. I am directed by my Government to express to you the hope that pending the conclusion of the proposed treaty it may be agreeable to the Czechoslovak Government, as it is to the Government of the United States, to maintain the commercial relations between the United States and the Czechoslovak Republic on a basis of unconditional most-favored-nation treatment whereby the products of each country will be admitted to importation into the territories of the other on terms not less favorable with respect to valuation, import duties and other similar charges, than the products of any other country, that similarly in the matter of exportation, treatment not less favorable will be accorded with respect to valuation, export duties and other similar charges and also that in the matter of licensing, each government so far as it maintains the system of licensing will assure to the commerce of the other treatment as favorable as may be accorded to the commerce of any other country. My Government would understand that the most-favored-nation treatment which is hereby agreed upon shall become operative on the 5th day of November, 1923, and shall continue until the first day of January, 1925, but that, nevertheless, either the United States or the Czechoslovak Republic may discontinue such treatment to the commerce of the other country provided it shall, thirty days before such discontinuance, give to the other notice of such intention. The United States will not invoke the provisions of this agreement to obtain the advantages of any special arrangements which have been or may be concluded between the Czechoslovak Republic and Austria. or Hungary in pursuance of the economic clauses of the treaties of peace with Austria and with Hungary, and it understands that the Government of the Czechoslovak Republic will not invoke the provisions of this agreement to obtain the advantages which are or may be accorded by the United States to the commerce of Cuba or which are or may be reserved to the commerce of the United States with any of its dependencies and the Panama Canal Zone under existing or future laws. I should appreciate a communication from you giving assurances that most-favored-nation treatment in the sense of this communication will be accorded by the Government of the Czechoslovak Republic to commerce with the United States pending the conclusion of a general treaty between the two countries or until the first day of January, 1925. Accept, Sir, the assurance of my highest consideration. Dr. EDUARD BENEŠ, J. C. WHITE Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Czechoslovak Republic, [The Minister of Foreign Affairs to the American Chargé d'Affaires "ad interim.] PRAGUE, October 29th, 1923. Mr. Chargé d'Affaires : [Translation.] I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your note dated October 29th, 1923 and I am authorized to declare, that it is agreeable to the Government of the Czechoslovak Republic as it is agreeable to the Government of the United States pending the conclusion of the proposed general treaty to maintain the commercial relations between the United States and the Czechoslovak Republic on a basis of unconditional most-favored-nation treatment, whereby the prod ucts of each country will be admitted to importation into the territories of the other on terms not less favorable with respect to valuation, import duties and other similar charges, than the products of any other country, that similarly in the matter of exportation, treatment not less favorable will be accorded with respect to valuation, export duties and other similar charges and also that in the matter of licensing, each Government so far as it maintains the system of licensing, will assure to the commerce of the other treatment as favorable as may be accorded to the commerce of any other country. The most-favored-nation treatment which is hereby agreed upon shall become operative on the day of November 5th, 1923, and shall continue until January 1st, 1925, nevertheless, either the United States or the Czechoslovak Republic may discontinue such treatment to the commerce of the other country provided it shall thirty days before such discontinuance give to the other notice of its intention. The United States will not invoke the provisions of this agreement to obtain the advantages of any special arrangements which have been or shall be concluded between the Czechoslovak Republic and Austria or Hungary in pursuance of the economic clauses of the treaties of peace with Austria and with Hungary, and it is understood that the Government of the Czechoslovak Republic will not invoke the provisions of this agreement to obtain the advantages which are or may be accorded by the United States to the commerce of Cuba or which are or may be reserved to the commerce of the United States with any of its dependencies and the Panama Canal Zone under existing or future laws. Accept, Mr. Chargé d'Affaires, the assurance of my highest consideration. Mr. JOHN CAMPBELL WHITE, Dr. EDUARD BENES Chargé d'Affaires of the United States of America, Prague. о FURTHER EXTENDING THE DURATION OF THE CONVENTION OF APRIL 4, 1908 SIGNED AT WASHINGTON, JUNE 23. 1923 RATIFICATION ADVISED BY THE SENATE, DECEMBER 18, 1923 RATIFIED BY THE PRESIDENT, DECEMBER 28, 1923 RATIFIED BY GREAT BRITAIN, AUGUST 1, 1923 RATIFICATIONS EXCHANGED AT WASHINGTON, DECEMBER 29, 1923 |