[Distributed to th e Council and the M embers of th e League].

C. 27 . M. 13. 1924 vin.

LEAGUE OF NATIONS

SECOND GENERAL CONFERENCE

O N C O M M U N I C A T I O N S AND T R A N S I T

GENEVA, NOVEMBER 15™ - DECEMBER 9™, 1923

RECORDS AND TEXTS

R E L A T IN G TO T H E

GENERAL DISCUSSIONSO F T H E

CONFERENCE

GENEVA 1924

C O N T E N T S .

Page.

T h e B u r e a u o f t h e Co n f e r e n c e a n d t h e D e l e g a t i o n s ................................................................. ^

F ir s t P l e n a r y Me e t i n g , T h u rsd a y , N o v em b er 15 th , 1923, a t 3 p .m .

O pening of th e C onference : P re s id e n t’s S p e e c h ...................................................................... 13

A bsence of M. v a n E y singa , D elegate of th e N e th e rlan d s ............................................... 15

O rganisation of th e Conference ................................................................................................... 15

A p p o in tm en t of th e C om m ittee fo r th e V erification of C redentia ls, a n d th e E xam ina ­tion of th e R ules of P r o c e d u r e ................................................................................................... 16

A doption of th e A genda, a n d A p p o in tm e n t of C om m ittees .......................................... 17

G eneral D i s c u s s i o n ............................................................................................................................... 18

Se c o n d P l e n a r y M e e t i n g , T uesday , D ecem ber 4 th , 1923, a t 10 a.m .

1. R ep o rt of th e C om m ittee for th e V erification of C r e d e n t i a l s .......................................... 25

2. R ep o rt of th e C om m ittee on th e R ules of P ro ced u re ........................................................ 26

3. R ep o rt of th e R ailw ays C om m ittee on th e C onvention an d S ta tu te on th e In te r ­n a tio n a l R egim e of R ailw ays ( see proceedings of the R a ilw ays Committee, published sep a ra te ly ) ............................................................................................................................................. 26

4. D iscussion of th e C onvention a n d S ta tu te on th e In te rn a t io n a l R egim e of Railways(see proceedings of the R a ilw ays Committee, published s e p a r a te ly ) .......................... 26

5. P roposa l of M. P u s ta w ith reg a rd to Traffic c a rr ied u n d e r Successive C ontracts(see proceedings of the R a ilw a ys Committee, published s e p a r a te ly ) .......................... 26

6. V ote on th e R a ilw ay s C o nven tion a n d S ta tu te as a w hole (see proceedings of theR ailw ays Committee, published s e p a r a t e l y ) ........................................................................... 26

T h ir d P l e n a r y Me e t i n g , T uesday , D ecem ber 4 th , 1923, a t 4 p.m .

1. R ep o rt on th e W ork of th e A dv iso ry a n d T ech n ica l C om m ittee since th e BarcelonaConference ........................................................................................................................................

2. R eport on th e M easures ta k e n in E x ecu tio n of th e D ecisions o f th e B arce lonaConference ........................................................................................................................................ 2°

3. Co-operation be tw een W a te rw a y s a n d R a ilw ay s ( see proceedings of the R a ilw ays Com­mittee, published separately)

4. Travelling Fac ilities for G roups of S tu d e n ts , B o y S cou ts a n d Girl G uides ( see pro­ceedings of the R a ilw ays Committee, published s e p a r a t e l y ) ..........................................

5. A dvisory an d T echnical C om m ittee .........................................................................................

,o

yy

F o u r t h P l e n a r y M e e t i n g , S a tu rd a y , D ecem ber 8 th , 1923, a t 11 a .m .

1. C om m unication b y th e P re s id en t w ith reg a rd to th e D ecease of M. C h a rg u e ra u d

2. R eport of th e C om m ittee on E lec tric Q uestions on th e C onven tion re la ting tothe T ransm ission in T ran s it of E lec tric P ow er (see proceedings of the Conwnittee on Electric Questions, published separately) ■

3. Discussion of th e C onvention re la tin g to th e T ransm ission in T ra n s it of ElectricPower (see proceedings of the Committee on Electric Questions, published separately ) ..................................... 3°

4 - Advisory and Technical C om m ittee ........................................................................................ 31

— 3 —

Fifth P l e n a r y M e e t in g , S a tu rd a y , D ecem ber 8 th , 1923, a t 3 .3 0 p .m .

Page

I . Protocol of S ig n a tu re of th e C onven tion re la tin g to th e T ransm ission in T ra n s it of E lec tric P o w er (see proceedings of the Com m ittee on Electric Questions, published se p a ra te ly ) ............................................................................................................................................... 32

7.. R eport of th e C om m ittee on E lec tr ic Q uestions on th e C onven tion re la tin g to th e D eve lo p m en t of H y d ra u lic Pow er affecting m ore th a n one S ta te ( see proceedings of the Com m ittee on Electric Q uestions, published separa te ly ) ........................................... 32

3. D iscussion of th e C onven tion re la t in g to th e D ev e lo p m en t of H y d rau lic P ow eraffecting m ore th a n one S ta te ( see proceedings of the Committee on Electric Ques­tions, published s e p a r a t e l y ) ........................................................................................................ 32

4. C on tinuation of th e D iscussion on th e C onven tion re la tin g to th e T ransm iss io n inT ra n s it of E lec tr ic P o w er (see proceedings of the Committee on Electric Questions, published s e p a r a t e l y ) ...................................................................................................................... 32

5. C on tinua tion of th e D iscussion on th e C onven tion re la tin g to th e D eve lo p m en tof H y d ra u lic P o w er affec ting m ore th a n one S ta te ( see proceedings of the Com ­mittee on Electric Questions, published s e p a r a te ly ) .............................................................. 32

6. R eport of th e P o r ts C o m m ittee on th e C onven tion a n d S ta tu te o n th e I n te r ­n a tio n a l R eg im e of M aritim e P o r ts (see proceedings of the Ports Committee, published s e p a r a t e l y ) ...................................................................................................................... 32

7. D iscussion of th e C o n ven tion a n d S ta tu te on th e In te rn a tio n a l R egim e of M aritim eP o r ts (see proceedings of the P orts Committee, published s e p a r a t e l y ) ........................ 32

8. Closing S p e e c h e s ..................................................................................................................................... 32

9. E lection for th e R en ew al of th e A dv iso ry a n d T echn ica l C o m m it te e ............................. 35

An n e x e s ..................................................................................................................................................................................... 37

A Contents Table o f M in u te s w ill be published separately.

T H E B U R E A U O F T H E C O N F E R E N C E A N D T H E D E L E G A T IO N S .

President :

M. E tto re Co n t i .S enato r of th e K ingdom of I ta ly .

Secretariat- General :

M. R. H a a s , S ecre ta ry -G enera l of th e Conference.Mr. T. A. H ia m .M. J . M. F. R o m e in .

A L B A N IA .Delegate :

Dr. B. B l i n i s h t i .P e rm a n e n t R e p re se n ta tiv e of A lb an ia acc red ited to th e L eague of N atio n s . Consul-General

of A lban ia in Sw itzerland .

G E R M A N Y .Delegate :

H is Excellency D o c to r A. S e e l i g e r .E n v o y E x tra o rd in a ry a n d M inister P len ip o ten tia ry .

Substitu te :

M. G ottfried A s c h m a n n .Counsellor of Legation .

Special Delegate for the R a ilw a y Convention :

M. P au l W o l f .M inisterial Counsellor to th e M in is try for C om m unications of th e Reich

Expert :

D octor R obert H a a s .D irector of th e R hein ischen K ra f tw erk e a t R heinfelden .

A U S T R IA .Delegate :

H is E xcellency M. E m erich P f l ü g l .R esident M inister. P e rm a n e n t D elega te acc red ited to th e L eague of N ations

Expert :

D octor F ranz J e l i n e k .Counsellor of Section a t th e F ed era l M in is try fo r Com m erce a n d C om m unications.

B E L G IU M .Delegate :

H is Excellency M. X av ie r N e u j e a n .Minister for R ailw ays, M ercantile M arine, P o s ts a n d Telegraphs.

Assistant Delegates :

M. Charles H a n r e z .

A dm inistra tor for the S ta te R ailw ays.M. A lfred P ie r r a r d .

Director-General of th e M ercantile M arine.

B R A Z IL .Delegates :

M le C om m andan t-M ajor E . L e itâo de Ca r v a l h o .Engineer. S taff Officer. P ro fessor of th e S taff College a t R io de Ja n e iro .

JL Elisen F onseca de M o n t a r r o y o s .Engineer. F o rm e r S taff C ap ta in . M em ber of th e A dvisory a n d T echn ica l C o m m ittee fo r Com­

m unications a n d T ran s it .

B R IT IS H E M P IR E .Principal Delegate :

Sir Hubert L l e w e l l y n S m i t h , G.C.B.Chief E conom ic A dv iso r to th e B ritish G overnm ent.

Alternative Delegates :

Sir Francis D e n t , C.V.O.Mr. J. G. B a l d w i n , C.B.

Experts :

Sir Norman H i l l , B a rt.Mr. H. Ma r r io t t , C.B.E.Mr. J Sandem an A l l e n .

B U L G A R IA .Delegate :

M. Lubjn B o c h k o f f .Civil E ngineer. A ss is tan t to th e D irec to r-G enera l of S ta te R ailw ays a n d P o rts .

CANADA.Delegate :

Mr. Lucien P a c a u d .Secretary a t th e Offices of th e H ig h Com m issioner for C anada in London.

C H IL E .Delegates :

His Excellency M. F ran c isco R iv a s -V is c u n a .Envoy E x tra o rd in a ry a n d M inister P le n ip o te n tia ry in Sw itzerland , Czechoslovakia, A u s tr ia

and H u n g a ry .M. Francisco A m u n a t e g u i .

Secretary-G eneral of th e M ixed A rb itra l T ribunals . E ng ineer for B ridges a n d R oads. M em ­ber of th e A dv iso ry a n d T echn ica l C om m ittee for C om m unications a n d T ra n s it .

C H IN A .Delegate :

His Excellency M. T c h e n g - L o h .Envoy E x tra o rd in a ry a n d M in ister P le n ip o te n tia ry a t Paris.

Experts :

M' C. M. Ch e n .Assistant D irec to r of th e R a ilw ay T h ro u g h Traffic Section of th e M in is try of C om m unica-

tions a t P eking .Wang T s e n S z e .Counsellor of L egation . S ec re ta ry -G enera l of th e Chinese D elegation accred ited to th e League

of N ations.*■ Ouang H a n g .

Engineer of th e S ta te R ailw ays. M em ber of th e A dvisory a n d T echn ica l C o m m ittee for C om m unications a n d T ran s it .

COLOM BIA.Delegate :

Excellency D r. F ran c isco Jo sé U r r u t i a .former M inister fo r F o re ign Affairs. M inister P le n ip o te n tia ry in Sw itzerland .

Delegate :CUBA.

H is E xcellency M. A ristides de A g u e r o y B e t h a n c o u r t .E n v o y E x tra o rd in a ry a n d M inister P le n ip o te n tia ry a t B erlin a n d V ienna.

D E N M A R K .Delegate :

M. P. A. H o l c k -Co l d i n g .D irecto r of th e F irs t D ivision a t th e M in is try for Pub lic W orks. M em ber of th e Advisory

a n d T echn ica l C om m ittee for C om m unica tions a n d T ran s it .

E xperts :

M. I. J . N a n s e n .H ead of S ection a t th e G eneral D ire c to ra te of S ta te R ailw ays.

M. N. J . E h r e n r e i c h - H a n s e n .Chef de B u reau a t th e M in is try for Com m erce.

F R E E C IT Y O F D A N Z IG .Delegate :

Professor B o h d an W i n i a r s k i .V ice-C hairm an of th e A dv iso ry a n d T echn ica l C om m ittee for C o m m unica tions and Transit.

D elegate of P o land , ac tin g in th e sam e c a p a c ity for th e F ree C ity of D anzig.

A ssis tan t Delegate :

M. B ern ard B o g u s l a w s k i .In sp ec to r a t th e M in is try fo r R ailw ays. A ss is ta n t D elega te of P o lan d , ac tin g in the same

c a p a c ity for th e F ree C ity of D anzig .

E xpert :

O berreg ierungsrat K u r t A. E . H o f f m a n n .M em ber of th e D anzig H a rb o u r a n d W a te rw a y s B oard .

S P A IN .Delegate :

M. G uillerm o B r o c k m a n n y A b a r z u z a .Inspecto r-G enera l of R oads, C anals a n d P o rts . P re s id e n t of th e Council fo r Public Works.

A ssistan t Delegate:

M. A ntonio F ernan d ez de N a v a r r e t t e , M arquis of L egarda .Inspecto r-G enera l of R oads, C anals a n d P o rts . C ounsellor of P u b lic W orks.

E S T H O N IA .Delegate :

H is Excellency M. Charles R o b e rt P u s t a .E n v o y E x tra o rd in a ry a n d M inister P le n ip o te n tia ry in F ra n c e . M em ber of the Advisory

an d T echnical C om m ittee fo r C o m m unica tions a n d T ra n s it .

A ssistan t Delegate :

M. R om an S e l j a .

Inspecto r of Foreign C om m unications a t th e M in is try for C o m m unica tions.

F IN L A N DDelegate:

M. U rho T o iv o l a . ,

Secretary of Legation. D irec to r of th e F in n ish S e c re ta r ia t a cc red ited to the League o N ations.

F R A N C EDelegate :

M. Maurice S i b i l l e .

Member of th e Cham ber of D eputies. C hairm an of th e P ub lic W o rk s Committee of t Cham ber of D eputies,

— 7 —

Assistant Delegate :

M. Henri L o r i n .Member of th e C ham b er of D eputies. V ice-C hairm an of th e P u b lic W o rk s C o m m itte e of th e

C ham ber of D epu ties.

Experts:

jf. A. C h a r g u e r a u d .Inspector-G eneral of B ridges a n d R oads. C ha irm an of th e C en tra l Com m ission fo r R h ine

N av iga tion .M. du Ca s t e l .

D irector-G eneral of R a ilw ay s a t th e M in is try for Pub lic W orks.M. Marcel F o n t a n e i l l e s .

Inspector-G eneral of B ridges an d R oads.M, D u c h ê n e .

Director of P o litica l A ffairs a t th e F ren ch Colonial Office.M. Pierre H e n ry W a t i e r .

Chief E ng ineer for B ridges a n d R oads. D irec to r of P o rts a t th e M inistry for P u b lic W orks.M. Georges A r b e l o t .

Director of H y d ra u lic P ow er a n d th e D is tr ib u tio n of E lec tr ica l P ow er a t th e M in is try for Public W orks.

M. R ené V icto r le B e s n e r a i s .Chief E ng inee r fo r B ridges a n d R oads.

M. Etienne G e n i s s i e u .Chief E ng ineer of H y d ra u lic P ow er an d th e D is tr ib u tio n of E lectrica l E nergy .

M. Br e t o n .A dm in is tra to r D e le g a te . D irec to r of th e "C hargeurs réu n is” .

M. de R o u s i e r s .Secretary-G eneral of th e “C om ité c e n tra l des A m a te u r s de F ra n c e ” .

M. Auguste P o u r c e l .Assistant Chief E n g in e e r to th e B o a rd of th e P . L. M. C om pany.

G R E E C EDelegates :

M. Athanase P o l i t i s .Technical R e p re se n ta t iv e of th e H ellenic G o v ern m en t a t Paris . F o rm e r D irec to r-G en era l

of R ailw ays.M. Demetre P h o c a s .

Naval C ap ta in .

H U N G A R YDelegate :

M. Emile de W a l t e r .Ministerial C ounsellor a t th e M in is try for F o re ig n Affairs

Expert :

M. Nanasy .Secretary a t th e D ire c to ra te o f th e S ta te R a ilw ays.

I R IS H F R E E ST A T EDelegate :

M. Michael Ma cW h i t e .R epresentative of th e I r is h F ree S ta te acc red ited to th e L eague of N ations.

IT A L Ydelegate :

Paolo B ig n a m i .Engineer. F o rm e r U n d e r-S e c re ta ry of S ta te . F o rm er M em ber of th e C ham ber of D epu ties .

Assistant Delegates :

C°mm. Girolamo S i n i g a l i a .Former Chief In sp ec to r of th e S ta te R ailw ays. M em ber of th e A dviso ry a n d T ech n ica l C om ­

m ittee fo r C om m u n ica tio n s a n d T ra n s it . M em ber of th e C en tra l C om m ission fo r R h ine r N avigation .

mp- T orquato G i a n n i n i .Emigration C om issioner.

Experts :

Comm. Colonel Giulio I n g i a n n i .R oyal C om m issioner fo r th e G enoa H a rb o u r .

Chev. Off. M assim o Ch i e s a .A dvocate . Chief In sp e c to r of S ta te R ailw ays.

Gr. Off. D ionigi B ia n c a r d i .Professor.

Comm. D om in ique L o G a t t o .E ngineer. Chief In sp e c to r of Civil E ngineering .

JA P A NDelegate :

M. S. O k u y a m a .Counsellor of E m b assy . A ss is tan t H e a d of th e J a p a n e se L eague of N a tio n s Office a t Paris.

A ssis ta n t Delegate :

M. Y. S u g im u r a .F irs t S ec re ta ry of E m b a ssy in Paris .

Experts :

M. J iro A o k i .Inspecto r-G enera l a t th e M in is try for R ailw ays.

M. S. T s u c h iy a .Secre ta ry a t th e M in is try fo r C om m unications.

M em ber :

M. H. T e r a j i m a .T hird Secre ta ry of E m b a ssy a t Paris .

L A T V IA

Delegate :

H is E xcellency D octo r Michel W a l t e r s .E n v o y E x tra o rd in a ry a n d M in ister P le n ip o te n t ia ry a t Rom e.

A ssistan t Delegate:

M. F rédéric Ma g a z in g .In spec to r of In te rn a tio n a l C o m m unica tions a t th e M in is try for C om m unications.

L IT H U A N IADelegate :

M. G aétan D o b k e v i c i u s .Counsellor of L egation .

E xpert:

M. Je a n Sa b a l ia u s k a s .D irector of R ailw ays.

N O R W A YDelegate:

M. G abriel S m it h .

Director-G eneral of P o rts .

Assistan t Delegate :

M. Frederik S. I n g i e r .

D irector of the A dm in is tra tio n of th e S ta te R a ilw ays

Expert :

Captain 0 . B. H a v s b e r g .

Chef du B ureau a t th e A d m in istra tion of th e S ta te R ailw ays.

N E T H E R L A N D SDelegate:

Tonkheer W . J . M. v a n E y s i n g a .Professor a t th e U n iv e rs ity of L eyden . M em ber of th e A dvisory a n d T echn ica l C om m ittee

for C o m m unica tions an d T ran sit.

Assistant Delegates :

M. J. A. K a l f f .Member of th e D irec tio n of th e S ta te R ailw ays.

Professor J . H . W . V e r z i j l .Professor of In te rn a t io n a l L aw a t th e U n iv e rs ity of U tre c h t.

PO L A N DDelegate:

Professor B o d h an W i n i a r s k i .Vice-Chairman of th e A d v iso ry a n d T ech n ica l C om m ittee for C om m unications a n d T ra n s it .

Assistant Delegate :

M. Bernard B o g u s l a w s k i .Inspector a t th e M in is try for R ailw ays.

Expert :

M. Mieczyslas M a r c h l e w s k i .Doctor of L aw . F o rm e r A ss is ta n t C om m issioner-G enera l of th e Polish R epub lic a t D anzig

P O R T U G A LDelegate :

His Excellency M. A. M aria B a r th o lo m e u F e r r e i r a .Envoy E x tra o rd in a ry a n d M inister P le n ip o te n tia ry a t Berne.

R O U M A N IADelegate :

M. Georges P o p e s c o .Engineer. In sp ec to r-G en e ra l, D irec to r-G enera l of P o r ts a n d W aterw ays.

P rofessor a t th e P o ly tech n ic a t B u cares t.

SA L V A D O RDelegate :

His Excellency Dr. J . G u s tav e G u e r r e r o .Envoy E x tra o rd in a ry a n d M in is te r P le n ip o te n tia ry in F rance a n d Sw itzerland.

K IN G D O M O F T H E S E R B S , C R O A TS A N D S L O V E N E SDelegate :

Boja V o u k u v i t c h .Director of th e S ta te R ailw ays.

SIAMDelegate :

His Excellency P h y a S a n p a k i t c h P r e e c h a .Envoy E x tr a o rd in a ry a n d M in ister P le n ip o te n tia ry a t Rome.

S W E D E NDelegate :

^ Fredrik W ilhelm H a n s e n .Director-General of th e S ta te H y d rau lic P ow er a n d Canals.

— 10 —

Assistant Delegates:

M. Nils J o h a n A h l b e r g .D octo r of Science. D irec to r of th e S ta te R a ilw ay s A d m in is tra tio n .

M. K arl Iv a n W e s t m a n .Counsellor of L ega tion . H e a d of S ection a t th e M in is try for F o re ign Affairs.

S W IT Z E R L A N DDelegate :

M. R o b ert H e r o l d .D irec to r of th e R a ilw ay D iv ision of th e F ed e ra l D e p a r tm e n t of P o sts a n d R ailw ays. Member

of th e A d v iso ry an d T ech n ica l C om m ittee for C om m unica tions a n d T ran s it.

A ssistan t Delegates:

M. Joseph Ch u a r d .Engineer. D irec to r of th e B a n k for E lec tr ic a l U n d e rta k in g s a t Zurich.

Colonel E m ile H u b e r .H ead of th e E lec tr if ica tio n D iv ision a t ta c h e d to th e G enera l D ire c to ra te of the Federal

R ailw ays.

E xpert:

M. H e s s .H ead of th e D iv ision for Goods T ariffs of th e F ed era l R ailw ays.

C Z E C H O SL O V A K IADelegate :

H is E xce llency M. B o h u slav M u e l l e r .E ngineer. M inister P len ip o ten tia ry . D elega te to th e In te rn a t io n a l R iv e r Commissions.

A ssistan t Delegates :

M. Vo j tech K r b e c .E ngineer. C ounsellor of L ega tio n . Chef de B u reau a t th e M in is try fo r Foreign Affairs.

D o cto r F red eric Z a d n i k .D o cto r of Law. M inisteria l C ounsellor a t th e M in is try for R ailw ays.

M. Em ile K e j r .E ngineer. Special A dviser to th e M in istry for R ailw ays.

Experts :

M. V aclav S t a n e k .A dviser to th e M in istry for Com m erce.

M. F ranço is J a n d a .Engineer. F irs t Counsellor to th e M in is try fo r P u b lic W orks.

T U R K E YDelegates:

Z i a B e y .

General D irec to r of R a ilw ays a n d P o r ts a t th e M in is try for P u b lic W orks.A k il B e y .

E lectrical E ngineer a t th e M in is try for P ub lic W orks.

Delegate:U R U G U A Y

H is Excellency M. B en jam in F e rn a n d e z y M e d i n a .E nvoy E x tra o rd in a ry and M inister P le n ip o te n tia ry a t M adrid.

Delegate :V E N E Z U E L A

D octor C. P a r r a - P e r e z .

Special P len ipo ten tia ry to th e F ed era l Council. Chargé d ’Affaires in Sw itzerland.

T H E U N IT E D S T A T E S O F A M E R IC A

appointed Mr. Lewis W . H a s k e l l , C onsul a t G eneva, to be p resen t a t th e C onference as anobserver.

The following re p re se n ta tiv e s of th e

SA A R B A S IN G O V E R N IN G COM M ISSION

have been a d m it te d to p a r t ic ip a te in th e d iscussions of th e Conference in a n adv iso ry c a p a c i ty :

M. Jean Mo r i z e .Secretary-G eneral of th e G overn ing Com m ission.

M. Co u r t il e t .Director of P ub lic W orks, R a ilw ay s a n d P o rts , T e leg raphs a n d T elephones.

The following h a v e been a d m it te d to ta k e p a r t in th e Conference in an ad v iso ry c a p a c ity :

The re p re se n ta tiv e s of th e A d v iso ry a n d T ech n ica l C om m ittee for C om m unica tions an d T ra n s it :

Doctor A. S t i e v e n a r d .Member of th e C om m ittee .

M. Etienne I s a b e l l e .Engineer. E x p e r t to th e C om m ittee .

The re p re se n ta tiv e of th e C en tra l Com m ission fo r R h in e N av ig a tio n :

M. Jean H o s t ie .Secretary-G eneral.

The rep re se n ta tiv e of th e In te rn a t io n a l E lb e Com m ission :

M. Cecil von R e n t h e - F i n k .Secretary-G eneral.

The rep re sen ta tiv e of th e In te rn a t io n a l O der Com m ission :

M. P. Ch a r g u e r a u d - H a r t m a n n .Secretary-G eneral.

The rep re sen ta tiv e of th e P e rm a n e n t T echn ica l H y d ra u lic S ystem Com m ission of th e D a n u b e :

M. P. Ch a r g u e r a u d - H a r t m a n n .Secretary.

The rep re sen ta tiv e of th e In te rn a t io n a l C en tra l R a ilw ay T ra n sp o r t Office:

•’I H. D in k e l m a n n .Director.

The rep resen ta tiv e of th e In te rn a t io n a l U n ion of R a ilw ay A d m in is tra t io n s :

■v‘ Gaston L e v e r v e .Secretary-General.

The rep resen ta tiv es of th e In te rn a t io n a l C h am b er of C om m erce :

Delegates :

^ A la n G. A n d e r s o n K .B .E .,Vice-President of th e B ritish C h am b er of S h ipping . D irec to r of th e B an k of E n g lan d ,

v. D irector of M essrs. A nderson , G reene & Co.• • Charles L a u r e n t .

President of th e B a n q u e des P a y s d u N ord . P re s id e n t of th e F re n c h T h o m so n -H o u s to n Co. D irector of th e Suez C anal Co. D irec to r of th e P aris -O rlean s R ailw ay . C h a irm an of the R ail T ra n s p o r t C o m m ittee o f th e In te rn a t io n a l C ham ber.

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A ssistant Delegates :

M. B asil M i l e s .A m erican A d m in is tra tiv e C om m issioner to th e In te rn a t io n a l C ham ber of Commerce. Repre.

sen ta tiv e of th e S ecre ta ry -G enera l of th e In te rn a t io n a l C ham ber of Commerce.Mr. K ingsley R o o k e r .

R ep resen ta tiv e of th e S ec re ta ry -G enera l of th e In te rn a t io n a l C ham ber of Commerce.

E xpert :

M. G u stav e L e n o b l e .S ec re ta ry -G en era l of th e “B u reau de rense ignem en ts e t d ’é tu d es des T ra n sp o r ts industriels

e t c o m m e rc ia u x ” .

The following hav e also ass is ted th e D ra f tin g C om m ittee :

M. Georges B o n n e t .A ssis tan t C om m issioner of th e Council of S ta te of F ran ce . E x p e r t of th e Advisory and

T echn ica l C om m ittee for C o m m unica tions a n d T ran sit.M. J e a n H o s t i e .

S ecre ta ry -G enera l of th e C en tra l Com m ission for R h in e N av ig a tio n . E x p e r t of th e Advisory an d T echn ica l C om m ittee for C o m m unica tions an d T ran s it.

F IR S T P L E N A R Y M E E T IN G

H eld on Thursday, N ovem ber 15th, 1923, at 3 p.m .

M. E . Co n t i , P res id en t.

1. Opening of the Conference : P r e s id e n t’s Speech.

The P r e s i d e n t : [T ransla tion .] I t is w ith real em otion th a t I accep ted th e g re a t h o n o u r of presiding over th is Second In te rn a t io n a l Conference on F reedom of C om m unica tions an d T ra n s it in response to th e in v ita t io n o f th e Council of th e League of N ations. I feel m yself v e ry u n w o rth y of the honour, especially w hen I th in k of th e em inen t m an — M. H a n o ta u x -—- w ho p resided w ith such great a b ility a n d c lears igh tedness over th e B arcelona Conference. I am anx ious to associa te his name w ith th e opening of th e p re sen t Conference, an d I feel sure th a t y o u will su p p o rt m e in sending him ou r respec tfu l g ree tings.

I can, how ever, assu re you , G en tlem en , a t th is early stage, th a t I will d o m y b e s t to deserve the confidence w hich th e L eague of N a tio n s has p laced in m e a n d to o b ta in — th a n k s to y o u r enlightened co-opera tion — th e g re a te s t possible m easure of success for our work.

I desire a t once to th a n k y o u fo r th e read iness w ith w hich each of y o u in d iv id u a lly is p re p a re d to take part in endeav o u rin g to ach ieve th e v arious aim s for w hich th e L eague of N a tio n s is s triv ing . Your presence here is, in itself, a p roof of y o u r good in ten tio n s ; it is evidence of th e new sp ir i t which inspires th e life of n a tio n s a n d show s th e ir d e te rm in a tio n to co-opera te in a p ra c tic a l w ay in the solution of in te rn a tio n a l p rob lem s — to solve th em , indeed, b y p u tt in g a te rm to in te rn a tio n a l strife and b y seeking to m itig a te th e crisis w hich s till keeps h u m a n ity on th e rack .

The problem of t r a n s p o r t is one of th e m o st form idable , a n d we lea rn from h is to ry th a t , if it has been the propelling force in th e p rogress of civ ilisa tion , it has also been th e cause of g re a t competition an d h a rd s trugg les — even ts , indeed , w hich m ark all phases in th e d ev e lo p m en t of communications an d t r a n s p o r t — rep resen ted b y ve ry d ivergen t epochs of h u m a n c iv ilisa tion a n d by great d isp lacem ents of p re-em inence from one co u n try to a n o th e r a n d from one c o n tin e n t to another.

Throughout th e cen tu rie s , from th e an c ien t Phoenician period u n til t h a t of th e M iddle Ages, at the time of th e flourishing I ta l ia n republics, a n d from th e d ay s of th e H an sea tic L eague a n d of the great com m ercial em inence of P o r tu g a l a n d F lan d ers to those of E ng lish co lon isa tion a n d of modem traffic, th e s trugg les fo r w ays of co m m u n ica tio n an d th e co m p e titio n for m ean s of t r a n s p o r t have been very v io len t, an d if th e y hav e been th e cause of th e m arvellous deve lo p m en t of com m erce ind industry a n d th e d iffusion of th e legal sy s tem up o n w hich o u r com m ercia l in s t i tu t io n s are still based to -day , th e y h av e also g iven rise, a s I hav e a lre a d y p o in ted o u t, to th e m o st te rr ib le strife between th e d ifferen t peoples.

V\ e know indeed th a t th e desire for co n tro l of com m unica tions a n d for hegem o n y in th e m a t te r transport was n o t one of th e leas t causes of th e w orld war.

In times p as t, m a n y a t te m p ts h av e n o d o u b t been m ade to a rr iv e a t an ag reem en t be tw een otates w ith reg a rd to co m m u n ica tio n s an d tra n sp o r t . E vidence of such a t te m p ts m a y be °und, to give exam ples, in th e g re a t C onven tions of V ienna, Berne, e tc ., b u t th ese w ere e ith e r conventions as to p o in ts of p rinc ip le o r special ag reem en ts ; in ad d itio n to th e la t te r , th e S ta te s concerned often drew u p o th e r m ore o r less secret ag reem ents, w hich were en tire ly c o n tra ry to th e

ler agreem ents a n d w hich estab lish ed d ifferen tia l sy stem s designed to do h a rm to th e deve lo p ­ment of other S ta te s an d co n seq u en tly q u ite in co m patib le w ith a n y eq u itab le in te rn a tio n a l law.

The first g rea t genera l p rinc ip le estab lish ed in th e w orld as regards freedom of co m m u n ica tio n s P transit and eq u a li ty of r ig h ts in th is respec t is th e principle co n ta in ed in A rtic le 23 (e) of th e O'euant of the L eague of N atio n s , w hich we a re here to defend a n d to app ly .

Article 23 [e) p ro v id es th a t “ th e M em bers of th e League will secure an d m a in ta in freedom of °®munications and of t r a n s i t ” . T h is ag reem en t, w hich is a special one it considered b y itself, PPhes in rea lity to th e w hole sphere of in te rn a tio n a l econom ic life a n d c o n s t i tu te s therefo re guarantee for th e peace of th e world.

3 1 e *s no use in sp eak in g of freedom of exchange, th e abo lition of m onopolies in resp ec t ofïn|P es of raw m a te r ia l , th e free exercise of com m ercial com p e titio n an d th e s tab ilisa tio n of prices, ar esf t*le great w ays of in te rn a tio n a l co m m u n ica tio n w hich are p a r t of th e p a tr im o n y of n a tio n s

P aced freely a t th e d isposa l of all.

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W e all know th a t th e re s till ex ist to -d a y cond itions a n d prov isions in t r a n s p o r t tariffs such as to estab lish — b y g ra n tin g specially fav o u rab le cond itions to c e r ta in cou n trie s on ly — a disguised p ro tec tio n w hich can n o t be con tro lled an d b y m ean s of w hich freedom of com m erce an d the most- favoured n a tio n clause estab lish ed b y com m ercial tre a t ie s are , p rac tica lly speaking, rendered a m y th . T he scale of prices, th a t is to say , in te rn a tio n a l co m petition , is artific ia lly modified by the placing of infinite difficulties in th e w ay of tra d e and , to p u t i t b lu n tly , b y such inc iting to unfair­ness as can b u t do h a rm to th e in te rn a tio n a l o rg an isa tio n of tra n sp o r t .

A lthough a t th e end of th e w ar a c e r ta in lack of m ean s of t r a n s p o r t w as no ticeable , it can be said to -d ay th a t , if th e re is no g re a t ab u n d an ce , th e re is a t a n y r a te a sufficiency for th e provisioning of th e chief in te rn a tio n a l req u irem en ts .

C ountries w hich are rich in m eans of subsistence , in raw m a te r ia ls and in finished products o ugh t b y these m eans to com e to th e assis tance of th e m o s t n eed y coun tries . W e feel, however m ore keenly th a n before, th e need fo r fac ilita tin g th e use of m eans of t r a n s p o r t a n d of ways of com m unication , in asm u ch as th e co m p e titio n be tw een rich a n d poor co u n trie s is m u ch m ore serious to -d ay th a n i t w as form erly . M oreover, i t is essen tia l fo r th e v e ry ex istence of in d iv id u a l countries th a t such com petition shou ld te n d to becom e equalised a n d th a t th e prov ision ing of certain coun­tries should b e fac il i ta ted w hile o th e rs shou ld be g iven an o u tle t a b ro a d for th e ir superfluous production .

The w ar, b y estab lish ing , in consequence of th e b re a k -u p of g re a t S ta te s , new political units, has d islocated whole sy s tem s of com m unica tions, w ith th e re su lt th a t severa l of th e new States are iso la ted and h av e no o u tle t to th e sea n o r to th e g re a t lines of fluvial com m unication .

I t is, therefore , a b so lu te ly essen tia l t h a t genera l in te rn a tio n a l law s shou ld ensure to these countries, w hich are o ften neighbours, th e use of th e n ecessary w ays of com m unication , together w ith th a t freedom a n d eq u a li ty of co n d itio n s which will be a g u a ra n te e of peace between them an d of th e ir ve ry existence.

In conclusion, i t is necessary , g ra d u a lly a n d w ith cau tio n b u t w ith full consciousness of the object in view, to effect a tra n s fo rm a tio n of in te rn a tio n a l tra n sp o r t policy b y developing and estab­lishing on p e rm a n e n t lines a genera l in te rn a tio n a l legal sy s tem w hich shall ta k e in to consideration th e in te rests of everybody .

E ach of u s is aw are of th e conflicts w hich m a y arise in p ra c tic a l life b e tw een th e claims of in te rn a tio n a lism a n d th e sp irit of n a tio n a li ty w hich h a s w ith o u t d o u b t been s tren g th en ed by the w ar ; th e se ttlem en t of such conflicts is th e m o s t difficult, th e m o s t de lica te a n d th e m ost important of our tasks. W e m u st, above all, en d e a v o u r to a t te n u a te a n d p rev en t, as fa r as possible, any dispute , so th a t equ itab le in te rn a tio n a l law s m a y be d raw n u p b y o u r C onference ; and we must, a t the sam e tim e, en d eav o u r to safeguard a n d to re spec t th e in te re s ts a n d th e au th o r i ty of each na tion .

A sp irit of g rea t im p a r tia li ty , concilia tion , and , if need be, of ab n eg a tio n a n d generosity should an im ate us, an d it is in th a t sp ir i t th a t I u n d e r ta k e to d irec t o u r work.

I will n o t enlarge u p o n th e orig ins of ou r p re sen t Conference, since y o u are already well acq u a in ted w ith th e m : th e v arious re so lu tio n s of th e A ssem bly , th e B arce lona Conference and the work of th e A dviso ry a n d T echnical C om m ittee for C om m unica tions a n d T ra n s it .

T he Council of th e L eague of N ations, in its desire to co m p ly w ith th e re so lu tions of the Barce­lona Conference a n d o f th e G enoa Conference, as well a s w ith c e r ta in a rtic les of th e Treaties, has convened th is Second G enera l Conference, and I v e n tu re to express m y w arm es t admiration for th e w ork of th e A dvisory a n d T echn ica l C om m ittee , w hich h as d raw n u p w ith such intelligent care th e various p re p a ra to ry d o cu m en ts before y o u a n d w hich exp la in th e p o sition in deta il. M. Medina, here presen t, has been C h a irm an of t h a t C om m ittee , an d we a ll owe h im ou r d eep gratitude.

T he first p roblem w hich is su b m itte d to y o u for co n s id e ra tio n concerns th e international regime of ra ilw ays — a q ues tion w hich has a lre a d y been in v es tig a ted a t th e Barcelona Conference, b u t in respec t of w hich th a t C onference m ere ly expressed th e h ope th a t it would be possible in tw o y e a rs ’ tim e to d ra w u p a C onven tion .

I t is th is second Conference, therefo re , w h ich has to c a r ry o u t th a t recom m endation. The d ra ft C onvention w hich is su b m itte d to y o u for a decision is a rep ro d u c tio n of the Convention which was su b m itted a t B arcelona. I t h as been d ra w n u p by th e A dvisory a n d Technical Commit­te e on the basis of th e w ork of th e R ailw ays Sub-C om m ittee , a n d it ta k e s in to account the views of t h e various G overnm ents concerned to w hich special enqu iries were add ressed in th is connection.

T he d ra f t consists of a general p a r t in th e form of a C onvention a n d of a S ta tu te which contains

the m ore special an d technical provisions. T he sam e d iv ision h as been a d o p te d in regard to ports and th e o th e r questions.

The Advisory C om m ittee has ta k e n care to a d d ce r ta in v e ry useful ex p lana tions. I t has also given valuable in fo rm ation com piled b y i ts C om m ittee of E x p e r ts w ith reg a rd to the rules lai down in various special C onventions a lread y in force b e tw een th e v arious S ta tes . These rules will be of g rea t help to us.

I feel, indeed, th a t th is in fo rm ation as to th e regim e of in te rn a tio n a l ra ilw ays ought ah' aj' in th e fu tu re to be k ep t u p to da te , for it is an essen tia l a id to th e w ork of th e A dvisory and 1ec mcal Com m ittee an d of fu tu re Conferences.

The d ra ft S ta tu te deals w ith all th e essentia l p o in ts of th e in te rn a tio n a l regim e of rail"aUis no t for m e a t th e presen t m om en t to give a d e ta iled e x p lan a tio n of i ts provisions. In

o give a t least some idea of th e very considerab le a m o u n t of w ork before us i t will be enoug ryou th a t, under th is head alone, we shall have to d iscuss th e c o n tin u ity of interna 10

^5 0 C(-,mmunication an d in te rn a tio n a l ra ilw ays, th e reciprocal use of rolling-stock, the tinan relations betw een railw ay adm in istra tions, etc

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The second p ro b lem before u s is th a t of th e In te rn a t io n a l R egim e of P o rts . A rtic le 379 of th e Treaty of V ersailles p ro v id es for th e conclusion of a n In te rn a t io n a l C o nven tion in respect of p o rts , a n d , although i t was n o t considered ad v isab le to conclude such a C onven tion a t th e tim e of th e B arcelona Conference, t h a t Conference, n everthe less , m ad e reco m m en d a tio n s on th e su b jec t w hich may Well serve as a b as is fo r a C onvention .

" Moreover, th e p rov is ions w ith re g a rd to r iv e r p o r ts c o n ta in e d in th e C o n ven tion on N av ig ab le Waterways co ncluded a t B arce lo n a — provisions w hich are a lm ost a lw ay s app licab le also to maritime p o rts — c o n s ti tu te a p reced en t w hich o u g h t g re a tly to fac ili ta te o u r discussions.

The G enoa C onference in 1922 also expressed th e w ish t h a t an In te rn a tio n a l C onven tion in r e s p e c t of po rts m ig h t b e conc luded as soon as possible.

It is on th e bas is of th ese p reced en ts th a t o u r A dvisory a n d T echn ica l C o m m ittee has p re p a re d the draft which is su b m it te d to y o u fo r considera tion .

The princip les a t th e bas is of th is d ra f t a re all concerned w ith e q u a lity of t r e a tm e n t in th e use of m aritime p o r ts —- b y w hich is m e a n t com m ercial p o r ts -— fo r all th e S ta te s s ig n a to ry to th e Convention, a n d th e sam e p rin c ip le is em bod ied in th e C onven tion on th e R eg im e of N av ig ab le Waterways an d on F reed o m of Access to th e P o rts . These p rincip les a re in com ple te ag reem en t with the provisions of A rtic le 23 (e) of th e C ovenan t of th e L eague of N atio n s . I t m a y be th a t , in the course of o u r d iscussions, we sh a ll b e com pelled to p rov ide for ce r ta in excep tions, b u t i t is certain th a t if th e C onven tion is d raw n u p a t all, as I s incere ly h ope it will be, i t can on ly b e d ra w n up in accordance w ith th ese fu n d a m e n ta l principles.

As in o ther cases, th e d ra f t consis ts of a G enera l C onven tion a n d o f a S ta tu te p roceded b y suitable ex p lan a to ry notes.

The th ird i te m on th e ag e n d a of th e C onference is th e u til isa tio n of electric pow er from an international p o in t of view. T h e A d v iso ry a n d T echnical C om m ittee u n d e r to o k th e e x am in a tio n of this problem in view of a re c o m m en d a tio n of th e B arce lo n a Conference expressing th e h ope th a t it should be in v es tig a ted . T h e w ork w as e n tru s te d to a S ub-C om m ittee of E x p e rts .

As you will realise, we a re dea ling a t th e m o m en t w ith a new su b jec t, b u t , from an in te rn a ­tional point of view , we a lre a d y h a v e th e experience of p rev ious regim es u p o n w hich we can draw , and it would be d an g ero u s a priori to e s tab lish laws of a genera l charac te r .

For th is reason th e A dv iso ry C o m m ittee d id no m ore th a n d raw u p tw o d ra f t conven tio n s on two definite q ues tio n s closely connec ted w ith th e u ti l isa tio n of electrical energy, i.e. th e tra n s i t of electric pow er a n d th e d ev e lo p m en t of h y d rau lic p ow er o n w atercou rses fo rm ing p a r t of a basin situated in th e te r r i to ry of severa l S ta te s .

Even as re g a rd s th e se tw o questions, th e d ra f ts m ere ly lay dow n c e r ta in gu id ing p rincip les, as it is considered th a t th ese m a y b es t find d e ta iled ap p lica tio n , in th e first ins tance , in special agreements b e tw een th e S ta te s d irec tly concerned . A s in th e case of th e o th e r C onventions, these drafts consist of a g enera l p a r t in th e fo rm of a P ro to co l a n d of a S ta tu te .

It m aybe th a t we sh a ll find o th e r questions, to p u t on th e ag en d a of th is Conference, and , even if we do not h av e t im e to d iscuss th em , good serv ice w ill h a v e been done for fu tu re Conferences b y bringing th em to th e no tice of in te rn a tio n a l p u b lic opinion.

In conclusion, I h ope w ith all m y h e a r t th a t th is Second C onference on F reed o m of C om m unica ­tions and T ransit, b y co m p le tin g th e v a lu ab le w ork b eg u n b y th e B arce lona Conference, especially as regards th e G enera l C o n ven tion on F reed o m of T ra n s it a n d th e R egim e of N av ig ab le W ate rw ay s , will constitute a second a n d a n im p o r ta n t s te p to w a rd s em body ing in legal fo rm — th a t is to say , towards legally g u a ra n te e in g — th e p rinc ip les of so lid a r ity a n d m u tu a l a ss is tance w hich o u g h t to unite the n a tio n s a t th e p re sen t tim e.

This is th e im p o r ta n t w ork w ith w hich you h av e been e n tru s te d b y th e L eague of N a tio n s a n d by the S tates w hich y o u h a v e th e h o n o u r to rep re sen t. A lth o u g h th e p ro b lem we a re to d iscuss and define is an econom ic one, we know th a t it is so w ide as to affect th e v e ry life of peoples a n d Hâtions. I t is th e re fo re e ssen tia lly a h u m a n ita r ia n a n d civilising ta s k w hich we a re u n d e rta k in g , ®d it is this end th a t w e o u g h t to d ev o te a ll o u r ene rgy in a sp ir it of th e u tm o s t ju s tic e a n d eq u ity .

To m itigate th e te rr ib le consequences of w a rs a n d to enab le n a tio n s a n d peoples to develop their capacities freely a n d w ith ever-increasing v i ta l i ty — th is is ou r ideal.

With in d es tru c tib le confidence in th e fu tu re of a b e t te r w orld, I desire to express m y g ra t i tu d e to the g reat-hearted c o u n try w hich offers us h e r generous h o sp ita li ty , a n d to renew to you all th e expression of m y w arm es t th a n k s fo r th e in v a lu a b le ass is tan ce w hich y o u a re a b o u t to give in th e realisation of o u r w ork.

I declare open th is Second G enera l C onference o n F reed o m of C om m unica tions a n d T ran s it .

- Absence of M. van E ys in ga , D elegate of the N ether lands.

The P r e s i d e n t : [Translation.] M. van E ysinga (Netherlands) regrets that he cannote Present a t our first m eeting, but informs me th at he hopes to reach G eneva on Friday morning.

J t a n is a t io n of the Conference.

,]r |*le P r e s i d e n t : [Translation.] Gentlemen, before the Conference begins to consider inthe questions on its agenda there is still a little preliminary work to be done.

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W e m u st begin b y se ttlin g ce rta in p o in ts co n nec ted w ith th e o rg an isa tion of th e Conference as has been done a t fo rm er Conferences ; in doing so we sho u ld follow th e lines la id dow n in the Rules of P rocedure for G eneral Conferences on C om m unica tions a n d T ra n s it ad o p ted a t Barcelona.

F irs t of all, I m u s t in fo rm you of a n u m b e r of s tep s w hich were ta k e n before th is Conference m e t a n d w hich affect to som e e x te n t i ts co n s ti tu tio n a n d o rgan isa tion .

T he Council of th e L eague of N atio n s , as y o u know , in s tru c te d th e Secretary-G eneral of the League — in accordance w ith th e sp ir it of th e t ra n s p o r t reso lu tions of th e G enoa Conference, which were app roved b y th e Council an d th e A ssem bly , a n d in acco rdance w ith th e m ost recen t precedents such as th o se c rea ted b y th e C onference on C ustom s F o rm a lit ie s — to in v ite to th e present Confe­rence n o t on ly M em bers of th e L eague of N a tio n s b u t also S ta te s w hich a re n o t Members, as it is la id dow n in our R ules fo r O rgan isa tio n th a t such S ta te s m a y ta k e p a r t in o u r work. Germany a n d T u rk ey a re acco rd ing ly p a r t ic ip a tin g in th is Conference, w hile th e U n ite d S ta te s have inti­m a te d th e ir in te n tio n of send ing a de lega tion of observers.

T he p re lim inary s tep s ta k e n b y th e Council hav e since received th e fu ll a p p ro v a l of the Fourth A ssem bly of th e League. I h a v e the re fo re no d o u b t th a t th e p resen t Conference, consisting as it does of delegates of th e G o v ern m en ts w hich were rep re sen ted a t th e A ssem bly , will be glad to hav e th e rep resen ta tiv es of as m a n y S ta te s as possible ta k in g p a r t , on a n eq u a l footing, in the p rep a ra tio n a n d ad o p tio n of th e im p o r ta n t conven tio n s on o u r agenda, w ith none b u t technical p reoccupations, an d w ith o u t p rejud ice, of course, to a n y m u tu a l en g agem en ts w hich any of them m a y have u n d e r ta k e n in v ir tu e of trea ties .

I m u s t also in fo rm th e Conference th a t th e G overn ing C om m ission of th e T e rr ito ry of the Saar B asin an d th e F ree C ity of D anzig h a v e been in v ite d to send rep re se n ta tiv e s to th e Conference, on conditions suggested b y p reced en t a n d b y ex is ting conven tions.

G uided also b y p receden t, p a r t ic u la r ly th e p reced en ts of th e B arce lona Conference, invitations hav e also been issued to in te rn a tio n a l o rg an isa tio n s to ta k e p a r t in a n ad v iso ry capacity in our discussions. One of th e a d v a n ta g e s of d iscussing tech n ica l p rob lem s of a genera l n a tu re under the auspices of th e League w ould a p p e a r to be t h a t it is possible, w ith o u t d ifficulty an d by a simple procedure, to b ring th e rep re se n ta tiv e s of G overnm en ts , w hich a re alone responsible, into direct co n tac t w ith such o rgan isa tions. T hese la t te r a re e ith e r doing v a lu ab le w ork an d acquiring precious experience in v ir tu e of co n v en tio n s o r else th e y rep resen t fo r us, to a ce rta in extent, the in te rn a tio n a l public op in ion of th o se circles w hich a re especia lly concerned in th e solution of the problem s before us. In v i ta t io n s to be rep re sen ted in a n adv iso ry ca p a c ity w ere therefore issued to th a t im p o r ta n t o rg an isa tio n th e In te rn a t io n a l C ham ber of Com m erce (whose President, Mr. B ooth , I am g lad to see am ong u s) , to th e vario u s R iv e r C om m issions a n d th e C en tra l Transport Office a t B erne (all of w hich bodies w ere in v ite d to th e B arce lona C onference), a n d to the Inter­n a tio n a l R ailw ay U nion , w hich has been fo rm ed since th e G enoa C onference a n d m aintains close re la tions w ith th e League O rgan isa tion for C om m unica tions an d T ran s it . I am sure that our Conference, like th e B arce lona Conference, will h ig h ly ap p rec ia te th e fr iend ly assistance thus afforded, an d I hav e n o d o u b t th a t a ll m y colleagues will agree w ith me.

I should add, in o rd e r th a t th e Conference shou ld b e q u ite reg u la rly co n stitu ted , that the Secretary-G eneral of th e L eague h as in fo rm ed m e, in accordance w ith A rtic le 5 of the Rules of Procedure, of th e a p p o in tm e n t of M. H aas , m em b er of th e In te rn a t io n a l S ec re ta ria t and Secre­ta ry -G enera l of th e A dv iso ry an d T echn ica l C om m ittee , as S ecre ta ry -G enera l of th e Conference.

4. Appointm ent of the C om m ittee for the Verification of C redentials and the Examination of the Rules of Procedure.

T he P r e s i d e n t : [T ra nsla tion .] O ur first business is of a m ore o r less fo rm al nature , namely, to verify th e credentia ls of m em bers. I n th is connec tion A rtic le 2 of ou r R u les of Procedure lays down th a t a C om m ittee for th e V erification of C redentia ls, consis ting of e ig h t m em bers, shall be elected by secret b a llo t b y th e C onference a n d sha ll rep o rt a t once. If a n y member of the Conference desires it, I w ill a t once ta k e a v o te on th e a p p o in tm e n t of th e C om m ittee ; but if the Conference is p repared to ad o p t th e sy s tem follow ed b y th e A ssem bly Com m ittees and to dispense w ith th e vo te , I will v en tu re to suggest th a t th e follow ing eigh t members should con stitu te th e C om m ittee for th e V erification of C reden tia ls:

M. S ib i l l e (France).Mr. MacW h it e (Irish F ree S ta te ) .M. P a r r a - P e r e z (Venezuela).M. P f lü g l (A ustr ia ) .M. Sa n p a k it c h P r e e c h a (S iam ).M. T c h e n g -L o h (C hina).M. de W a l t e r (H ungary).M. W in i a r s k i (Poland).

[Approved.]

I propose th a t M. Sibille be a p p o in ted C hairm an of th e C om m ittee . ,,w , er ls one. th e senior m em bers of th e F ren ch C h am b er of D epu ties , P res id en t of the Pu

or ? ommission, and one of th e h ig h es t a u th o rit ie s on th e ques tio n s w hich will come be 0-f,s ere i8 no objection I tak e i t th a t th is p roposal is a d o p ted .

T om rm ttee for th e Verification of C reden tia ls will su b m it its re p o r t as soon as P°?s* ,delay rem m y ° u th a t rep resen ta tives should h a n d in th e ir c red en tia ls to th e Secre taria t wit 10

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T he sam e C om m ittee m ig h t, I th in k , exam ine o u r R u les of P ro ced u re in o rder to decide whether any m odifications a re necessary .

M. S ib il l e (France) : [Translation.] I t h a n k th e Conference for i ts k indness in e lec tingffle C hairm an of th e C om m ittee for th e V erification of C redentia ls a n d fo r th e e x a m in a tio n of the Rules of P rocedure . I t is im p o r ta n t , I th in k , th a t th e Conference shou ld s e t t le th ese R ules without delay. I sh a ll the re fo re ta k e s te p s to enable i t to do so a s soon as poss ib le .

5, Adoption of the A genda and A ppointm ent of C om m ittees .

The P r e s i d e n t : [Translation.. The Conference should also p roceed fo r th w ith defin ite lyto decide upon its agenda . I n th is connection it shou ld be no ted th a t th e ag en d a h as been d raw n up in accordance w ith A rtic le 11 of th e R ules fo r O rgan isa tion , a n d th a t no M em ber of th e L eague has requested th e inclusion of ad d it io n a l item s in th e agenda u n d e r p a ra g ra p h (a) of A rtic le 11. Under these c ircum stances, a n d w ith o u t p re jud ice to th e subsequen t r ig h ts of th e C onference as set forth in p a ra g ra p h (b) of A rtic le 11 regard ing u rg e n t questions, th e ag en d a of th e C onference will rem ain in i ts p resen t form , as com m u n ica ted to th e G o vernm en ts before th e opening of th e Conference.

In connection w ith th e agenda , I shou ld like to inform th e Conference th a t I h av e rece ived from the S ecre tary -G enera l of th e League of N ations, for com m unication to th e Conference, a resolution ad o p ted b y th e F o u r th A ssem bly regard ing certa in tra n sp o r t facilities. T h is is in no sense an add ition to o u r agenda , b u t th e in fo rm atio n m a y b e of use w hen th e Conference is d iscus­sing railway q u es tio n s ; I suggest, therefore , if you agree, th a t th is com m unica tion shou ld be d is t r i ­buted so th a t it m ay , if necessary , be d iscussed w hen th e Conference deals w ith th e ra ilw ay t r a n s ­port questions a lre a d y on its agenda.

I also propose to hav e d is tr ib u te d a reso lu tion b y th e C en tra l R h ine N av ig a tio n Com m ission regarding th e re la tio n s be tw een ra ilw ays a n d w aterw ays, a question w hich is also d ea lt w ith in th e report on the C onven tion on th e In te rn a tio n a l Regim e of R ailw ays.

The agenda, as th u s fixed, m a y serve as a gu ide in th e d irec tion of th e o rg an isa tio n of o u r w ork . It includes genera l q u estions, such as th e ex am in a tio n of th e rep o rt on th e w ork of th e A dv iso ry and Technical C om m ittee an d on th e ac tio n ta k e n on th e decisions of th e B arce lona Conference, and such as th e renew al of th e A d v iso ry a n d Technical Com m ittee. T his side o t o u r w ork is, I think, sufficiently genera l to be carried o u t b y th e Conference itself in p le n a ry session, w ith o u t a n y preliminary co m m ittee w ork ; a t a n y ra te th e re will be no necessity for u s to decide in ad v ance on th e appointment of co m m ittee s for th e purpose . This is th e procedure I w ould p ropose to th e Con­ference; and I w ould fu r th e r suggest th a t these general questions, w hich are in a n y case q u i te separate from th e re m a in d e r of th e w ork before us, should be k e p t till th e end. I am , how ever, having th e re lev an t d o cu m en ts d is t r ib u te d a t once.

On the o th e r h a n d , y o u will d o u b tle ss agree th a t th e various d ra f t co n v en tio n s su b m it te d to the Conference sho u ld be care fu lly considered b y genera l co m m ittees c o n s ti tu te d in accordance with the preceden ts se t up a t B arce lo n a a n d b y th e A ssem bly of th e L eague — I m e a n co m m ittees on which every d e lega tion w ill be e n tit le d to be rep resen ted b y a m em ber, w ho m a y also b rin g experts if he th in k s i t desirab le .

I therefore p ropose th a t w e shou ld a p p o in t th ree genera l com m ittees, one to ex am ine th e d ra f t Convention on th e In te rn a t io n a l R ég im e of R ailw ays, a n o th e r th e d ra f t C onven tion on th e In te r ­national Regime of P o r ts a n d th e th ird to consider th e tw o d ra f t C onven tions on E le c tr ic a l Q ues­tions. E ach d e lega tion will in fo rm th e S ec re ta r ia t which of i ts m em bers is to rep re sen t i t o n each of these com m ittees.

The R ailw ays C o m m ittee m u s t, of course, as w as s ta te d in th e in v ita t io n se n t o u t to G o v e rn ­ments be able if necessary to m eet s im u ltan eo u sly w ith e ith e r of th e o th e r co m m ittees .

If there is no ob jec tio n to th ese proposals , I shall consider th e m ad o p ted . ( Approved.)

Lnder these c ircu m stan ces it is obv iously im p o r ta n t th a t th e com m ittees shou ld be a p p o in te d as soon as possible. I w ould ask delegations to com m unica te to th e S ec re ta ria t th is even ing , in "ritmg, the nam es of th e ir rep re se n ta tiv e s on th e th ree com m ittees, a n d I w ould suggest t h a t th e committees should m ee t to -m orrow to elect th e ir C hairm en — th e P o r ts C o m m ittee a t 10.30 a .m ., the Committee fo r E lec tric Q uestions a t 11 a .m . an d th e R ailw ays C om m ittee at 11.30 a .m . As 50011 as the C hairm en ot th e th re e co m m ittees a re elected, I p ropose to co n su lt th e m w ith a "ew to subm itting to th e C onference a m ore defin ite schem e for th e co n sidera tion of th e agenda .

In order to s ta r t a t once som e co m m ittee w ork of im m ed ia te usefu lness a n d u rgen cy , I th in k 1 would be wise to decide th a t in a n y e v en t th e R ailw ays C om m ittee sh o u ld m e e t a t 3 o ’c lock o-morrow i t s w ork is com plica ted , b u t i t h a s been fu lly p repared , since i t d a te s b a c k as fa r s he Barcelona Conference.

on f " Popesco (R oum ania) : [Translation.] I t would be b e t te r to a p p o in t on ly tw o co m m ittees :onl ,Ports an d e lectric q u estions a n d one for railw ays, as o therw ise som e cou n trie s w hich h a v e

■ a ew delegates will n o t be in a position to be rep resen ted on all th e com m ittees .

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The P r e s i d e n t : [Translation .] A s these ques tio n s are of a n en tire ly d ifferen t characterit would be b e t te r to hav e special de legates fo r each. I will, how ever, b e a r y o u r observation in m ind an d will a rrange as fa r as possib le for th e tw o com m ittees to m eet a t d ifferen t times. Every c o u n try w ill th u s be ab le to hav e a re p re se n ta tiv e on each com m ittee .

In accordance w ith th e R u les of P rocedure , I w ill also, su b jec t to th e a p p ro v a l of th e Confe­rence, tak e th e necessary s te p s to h a v e a D ra f tin g C om m ittee appo in ted . T h is com m ittee will be required to consider a n y p u re ly legal q u estions re fe rred to i t b y th e C onference or th e Committees an d to exam ine th e p ro to co l sections of th e v a rio u s C onventions, w hich a re a ll id en tica l and should no t, therefore , be sep a ra te ly considered b y each C om m ittee . T h e D ra f tin g C om m ittee will also do th e necessary w ork of final d ra f tin g in th e s tr ic t sense of th e term .

If nobody wishes to sp eak on th is su b jec t, I sh a ll ta k e i t th a t these p roposa ls also are adopted-

I th in k we m ig h t usefu lly sp en d th e re s t of th is m ee tin g in h earing th e view s of an y delegations which m a y desire to speak on th e ag en d a as a w hole, w ith o u t going in to d e ta il on a n y particular po in t. W e shall th u s from th e o u tse t e s tab lish a c e r ta in m easu re of u n i ty a n d ag reem ent in our discussions.

6 . General D iscu ssion .

The P r e s i d e n t : [Translation.] I call u p o n M. F e rn an d ez y M edina, C h a irm an of th e Advis­ory and T echnical C om m ittee , to open th e genera l discussion.

M. F e r n a n d e z y M e d i n a (U ruguay) : [Translation.] Mr. P re s id en t a n d Gentlemen, asC hairm an of th e A d v iso ry a n d T echn ica l C om m ittee for C om m unica tions a n d T ransit, I feel m yself called up o n to speak a t th is opening m eeting , a t w h ich we a re ju s t ly p ro u d to see so many delegations a n d such d is tin g u ish ed m em bers.

W e m ay co n g ra tu la te ourse lves on th e success, w hich I th in k we m a y a lre a d y anticipate, of th is Second Conference in co n tin u a tio n of th e v a lu ab le a n d m em orab le w ork done a t Barcelona. I see in th is room m a n y delegates w ho to o k p a r t in th e F i r s t C onference a n d w ho will continue to follow th e m e thods w hich we ad o p ted , a n d to b e gu ided b y th e sp ir it w hich h as insp ired us. I also see m an y new m em bers who, I a m sure, h av e com e in th e sam e sp irit. I welcom e m y old col­leagues — I w ould even say m y friends — a n d I also w elcom e o u r new associates, who will soon, I t ru s t , becom e no less ou r friends.

You are fam iliar, G en tlem en , w ith th e w ork of th e A dv iso ry a n d T ech n ica l Committee for C om m unications a n d T ran s it. Y ou h a v e a lre a d y h a d a n o p p o r tu n i ty of ju d g in g it. I can say of a ll m y colleagues — ex p erts to w hose ass is tance w e h a v e reso rted w ith o u t d is tin c tio n of natio­n a lity — th a t th e y hav e done good w o rk a n d th a t th e y m erit th e p ra ise g iven them by the F o u r th A ssem bly of th e L eague o f N a tio n s . O n th e ir behalf, a n d on m y ow n, I w ould say that w e a re deeply to u c h e d b y th is t r ib u te a n d a re p ro fo u n d ly g ra te fu l to th e A ssem bly .

If th e A dvisory C o m m ittee h a s ach ieved success in som e directions, a n d if we h av e m ade progress in o thers, in th is p rovince, w hich w as so ad v erse ly affec ted b y th e w ar a n d in w hich our work was rendered so difficult b y th e genera l w orld s itu a tio n , we a re b o u n d to recognise t h a t our success is due to th e sp irit of so lid a r ity a n d loya l co -opera tion w h ich in sp ired all th e organisations of the League, to th e friendly a t t i tu d e of th e G overnm en ts , to th e v a luab le ass is tan ce we have received from th e S ecre ta ria t of th e League, and , ab ove all, to th e sincere co rd ia lity d isp layed by members of th e C om m ittee.

I would call a t te n tio n to th is ad m irab le ex am p le of co -opera tion ; to m y m in d i t is one of the g reatest v ictories of th e L eague of N ations, a n d i t is, a t t h e sam e tim e , a g u a ra n te e of the future ch a rac te r of in te rn a tio n a l re la tions. W e hav e a lw ays m e t a s friends o v e r o u r w ork ; all our thoughts have been of success — of m ak in g som e im p ro v em en t, som e progress in in te rn a tio n a l relations. N o t one of us has ever fe lt a n y c o n s tra in t. N o t one of us h a s ever d re a m t of d raw ing the least d istinction betw een th e rep re sen ta tiv e of a g re a t P ow er a n d th e re p re se n ta tiv e of a small nation. W e have all d isplayed an equal respect a n d consid e ra tio n to w ard s one an o th e r , a n d we have carried on in com plete freedom th e w ork w hich we believe to be usefu l to th e w orld a n d to serve the major in terests of th e nations.

W h atev er m ay be said elsewhere b y th o se w ho refuse to see th e L eague of N ations in its true light as an in s tru m en t for securing a peacefu l u n d e rs ta n d in g a n d a u n an im o u s co-operation between peoples, we here have a lw ays been guided b y a lo f ty sp ir it of ju stice a n d m u tu a l consideration , no passion has ever raised i ts h ead am ong us, ex cep t th e passion for ju s tice a n d for th e effective co-operation of all m ankind . N one of us regards h im self as being th e sole vessel of t ru th or the sole channel of the h igher pow er to b r in g h ap p in ess to h u m a n ity . N e ith e r th e most modes delegates nor those who are p ro u d est of th e ir tra d it io n s o r th e ir independence h a v e ever felt them selves ham pered by any co n stra in t or oppression.

I shall m ake no fu r th e r allusion to th o se w ho d e lib e ra te ly re fra in from jo in ing us and still refuse to w ork in th a t com prehensive a n d generous c o m m u n ity th e L eague of N ations — or even in ° Ur °r §anisat i ° n > w hich is com pletely d ivorced from politics a n d p re jud ices. I think, an confidently hope, th a t th e day is n o t fa r off w hen we shall a ll be assem bled here , a n d those who hav wor ed from th e o u tse t w ill be ab le to ex ten d th e m o s t co rd ia l welcom e to th o se o th e rs whom v are im patien tly awaiting, an d who, as in th e Gospel pa rab le , shall receive th e sam e reward as 0 who bore the heat and bu rden of th e day.

We are ab o u t to en te r upon th e w ork of th e Second G enera l C o n f e r e n c e o n Commu-an ia n s it. I would say one m ore w ord of en co uragem en t to you in y o u r task.

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n0t refer to th e co rd ia l co m m en d a tio n w ith w h ich th e A ssem bly of th e L eague of N a tio n s h a s received the w ork a lre a d y accom plished. I will m ere ly say th a t , in in te rn a tio n a l life, n o th in g which affects one n a tio n or one C o n tin en t can be a m a t te r of indifference to th e rest. T h e g o v e rn - in„ principle th ro u g h o u t is, a n d m u s t be, so lidarity . N o w ork, w h e th e r g re a t or sm all, is useless which is b ro u g h t a b o u t by th e desire for in te rn a tio n a l un ion a n d for th e im p ro v em en t of in te r n a ­tional com m unications. W e m a y be confiden t th a t w e are w ork ing for a b e t te r fu tu re , even if we do not or cannot c learly see th e f ru its of o u r w ork a n d of ou r devotion .

In conclusion, I should like to th a n k ou r e m in en t P res id en t, on b eha lf of th e A dv iso ry an d Technical C om m ittee a n d on m y ow n behalf, fo r h is k in d w ords in connection w ith th e p re lim in a ry work of th is Conference ; for m y ow n p a r t , I am in fu lle s t sy m p a th y w ith our P re s id e n t’s affec tionate tribute to M. H a n o ta u x , w hose ad m irab le w ork a s P re s id en t of th e B arcelona C onference will remain a cherished m em ory .

M. S ib i l l e (France) : [ T ransla tion .] G en tlem en , d u rin g th e p a s t c e n tu ry scientificdiscoveries h a v e led to a n econom ic rev o lu tio n , th e im p o rtan ce of w hich c a n n o t fail toimpress us.

In 1823 th e exchange of goods b e tw een th e d iffe ren t co un tries of th e w orld w as re la tiv e ly unimportant a n d ex trem ely costly . C om a n d w ine w ere ca rried w ith in a rad iu s of a few m iles b y horse-drawn c a r ts o r b y sm all tow ed barg es ; ca rgoes of su g a r o r c o tto n w ere b ro u g h t to E u ro p e a n ports by sailing vessels of 500 o r 600 tons.

But in 1829 — a m em o rab le year, G en tlem en — Stevenson , a w o rk m an tu rn e d engineer, put on th e rails th e first locom otive , th e R o ck e t, a n d Seguin in v en ted th e tu b u la r bo iler. I n a short tim e — a fte r 1840 — th a n k s to th is h a p p y c o llab o ra tio n b e tw een F re n c h a n d E ng lish genius, long trains were covering g re a t d is tances a t a h igh sp eed all over th e w orld.

The progress m ad e a t sea as a re su lt of th e d iscoveries of sc ien tis ts of a ll n a tio n s is no less rem arkab le . T o -d ay th e A tla n tic is crossed b y cargo b o a ts a n d m ail s team ers of th o u sa n d s of tons.

Lastly, in recen t y ea rs w a te r-p o w er h a s been harnessed , carried to g re a t d is tances an d converted in to pow er, ligh t a n d hea t.

In view of a ll th e p rogress th a t has been m ade , c iv ilised n a tio n s can no longer en tren ch th e m ­selves behind im p assab le b a rr ie rs . P assenger a n d goods traffic a n d th e tran sm iss io n of pow er are no longer res tr ic ted to th e in te r io r of a c o u n try , a n d fro n tie rs m u s t be crossed ra p id ly w ith o u t breaking bulk.

Problems h a v e th u s a risen w hich requ ire a so lu tio n ; a n d i t is usefu l —- ind eed i t is ind ispensab le— to determine a n d re g u la te th e cond itions of in te rn a tio n a l t ra n s p o r t b y in te rn a tio n a l co n v en ­tions.

The Second C onference on C o m m unica tions a n d T ra n s it , sum m oned b y th e L eague of N atio n s , will have to consider fo u r d ra f t co n v en tio n s d ra w n u p b y th e A dv iso ry a n d T echn ica l C o m m ittee with com m endable care .

As you all know , fo r m a n y yea rs p a s t ra ilw ays in ad j acen t cou n trie s h av e been linked up , a n d railway adm in is tra tio n s of d iffe ren t n a tio n a lit ie s h a v e end eav o u red to sa tis fy th e req u irem en ts of commerce b y agreeing u p o n th ro u g h ra te s a n d cond itions of carriage from s ta t io n s o n one sy s tem to stations on ano th e r. C om m on tariffs fac il i ta te re la tio n s be tw een ne ighbouring coun tries. B u t, in accordance w ith in te rn a tio n a l law , c o n tra c ts are g o v e rn ed b y th e law of th e c o u n try in w hich they were m ade.

Originally in te rn a tio n a l co n s ig n m en ts b y ra il w ere su b jec t, even a t th e place of d e s tin a tio n , to the regulations of th e e x p o rtin g c o u n try . T hu s , a t G eneva, if a d isp u te arose be tw een a t r a d e r receiving goods a n d th e ra ilw ay , th e law s a n d reg u la tio n s of th e c o u n try in w h ich th e s ta t io n of despatch was s i tu a te d — France , o r B elgium , o r I ta ly , or G erm any , as th e case m ig h t be — h a d to be applied. T h is g a v e rise to d ifficulties a n d com plica tions.

In 1890 a C o n ven tion w as co nc luded a t B erne b e tw een a n u m b e r of C o n tin e n ta l E u ro p e a n countries laying dow n th e p rinc ip les of a u n ifo rm code of leg isla tion fo r in te rn a tio n a l goods traffic. This C onven tion , w hich m a y be re g a rd ed as a p o rtio n of a new E u ro p e a n code, defines th e responsibility of th e consigno r for in co rrec t d e c la ra tio n a n d defective p ack in g , a n d th e re sp o n s i­bility of railway a d m in is tra t io n s for loss, d am ag e , w astage , d e lay in delivery , f ra u d o r serious e rro r ; 't lays down cond itions fo r th e d ischarge of C ustom s, oc tro i an d police fo rm alities , fixes ru les fo r the calculation a n d p a y m e n t of fre ights, defines th e o b liga tions of th e consignee on rece ip t of th e goods, and de te rm ines th e co n d itio n s for th e d ism issa l of ac tions ag a in s t ra ilw ays a n d th e lim its within, which such ac tio n s a re re s tr ic ted . L a s tly , i t c rea tes a c e n tra l office fo r in te rn a tio n a l transport.

In June la s t an in te rn a tio n a l conference m e t a t B erne a n d drew u p tw o new co n v en tio n s . ,ne °f these re la tes to goods traffic a n d is to ta k e th e place of th e old B erne C on v en tio n of 1890; 1 e other deals w ith passen g er traffic in E urope .

It should be n o te d th a t th ese tw o co n v en tio n s affect th e re la tions b e tw een ra ilw ay a d m in is ­trations and users of th e ra ilw ays, w h e th e r th e y a re consignors of goods o r passengers. I n order,

"’ever, to regu la te a n d fac ili ta te in te rn a tio n a l ra ilw ay traffic, to av o id b re a k in g bu lk , a n d to ? Sure speed, it w as e ssen tia l th a t ag reem en ts sh o u ld be concluded be tw een ra ilw a y a d m in is t ra ­i s . They h av e therefo re done th e ir u tm o s t to ach ieve tech n ica l u n i ty in E u ro p e ; th e y h av e «tched decisions regard in g th e gauge of track s , th e tech n ica l cond itions req u ired in goods tru c k s

ln in ternational traffic, a n d th e sealing of tru c k s w hich h av e to p ass th e C ustom s; a n d th e y v e drawn up tim e-tab les . V arious ag reem en ts h a v e th u s been concluded .

ti , 11 is the business of th is C onference to a t te m p t to d iscover w h a t p rinc ip les are la id dow n b y corT a reements, a n d to w h a t e x te n t th o se princ ip les a re suscep tib le of be ing ex ten d ed to all th e

ntnes in the w orld w hich, in th e p re sen t s ta te of th e ir d eve lopm en t, a re concerned.

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T he F ren ch delegation , G entlem en, will beg y o u n o t to enclose in formulae which are too rigid an d u n a lte rab le th e so lu tions w hich m a y be fo u n d fo r questions of such com p lex ity and deli­cacy as those w hich arise o u t of th e opera tio n of tra n sp o r t . I t will also a sk you to a tta ch special im po rtan ce to th e lay ing dow n of p rincip les w hich will a ss is t th e w ork ing of in te rn a tio n a l traffic while leaving th e m a n n e r in w hich those princ ip les sha ll be app lied to be se tt le d b y p a r tia l conven­tions o r ag reem ents betw een ra ilw ay a d m in is tra tio n s .

T he d ra f t C onvention on M aritim e P o r ts ra ises v e ry delicate questions. T h e French dele­ga tion will lay stress on th e im possib ility of in te rfe rin g a t th e p resen t tim e w ith th e righ t of each S ta te to ta k e such m easu res as i t th in k s fit to fu r th e r th e d eve lopm en t an d p ro sp e rity of its mer­can tile m arine.

L a s tly we shall h av e before u s a d ra f t C onven tion on th e T ransm iss io n in T ra n s it of Electric Pow er a n d th e D evelopm en t of H y d rau lic Pow er. I need h a rd ly a d d th a t th e F ren ch delegation is m ost keen ly in te re s ted in th e deve lo p m en t of h y d rau lic pow er a n d will give th e u tm o s t possible ass is tance in th e w ork of th e Conference.

T hough each one of u s is r ig h tly anx ious to p ro te c t th e in te re s ts of h is c o u n try , I am sure that we are all a t one in o u r desire to p ro m o te in te rn a tio n a l com m erce a n d to im p ro v e th e relations betw een peoples. To th e fo rthcom ing d iscussions we sh a ll c o n tr ib u te a generous sp irit of modera­tion an d conciliation . T h a n k s to th e w ork of th e A dv iso ry a n d T echn ical C om m ittee we shall qu ick ly b ring our w ork to a successful conclusion, a n d in a few days, w hen th e tim e comes for us to p a r t , we shall be able to c o n g ra tu la te ourselves on h av in g co -opera ted in th e cause of peace an d social progress.

I t ru s t , G entlem en, th a t we sha ll all w ork to encourage those feelings of so lid a r ity and co-opera­tio n b y w hich all n a tio n s o u g h t a t th is tim e to be b o u n d to g e ther, as ou r P re s id en t h as said with all th e a u th o r i ty de riv ed from his w ide experience a n d from o u r com plete a n d well-founded confidence.

Sir H u b e r t L l e w e l l y n S m i t h (B ritish E m pire) : Mr. P re s id en t, a t th e ou tse t, I should like to express to you, on b eh a lf of th e B ritish d e lega tion , o u r g re a t p leasure th a t y o u have seen your w ay to accep t th e in v ita t io n o f th e Council to preside o v e r o u r d e libera tions, a n d also the deep g ra tifica tion w ith w hich we h av e lis ten ed to y o u r opening rem arks, in w hich you so clearly set before us th e n a tu re , th e m a g n itu d e a n d th e im p o rta n c e of th e ta s k on w hich we are engaged.

I t can n o t fail to be a g re a t en co u rag em en t to th o se of u s (and I hope th e y are many) who expect a n d look fo rw ard to a rea l, p ra c tic a l a n d tan g ib le o u tcom e of th e proceedings of this Conference. I shou ld like to a ssu re you, a t th is earlies t o p p o r tu n ity , th a t y o u h av e behind you th e loyal an d th e full su p p o rt o f th e B rit ish d e lega tion in b ring ing th is C onference to a successful and, I hope, a speedy issue.

Mr. P residen t, it is l i t t le m ore th a n a w eek ago th a t I , in th is h a ll, w as exchang ing congratula­tions w ith m y fellow delegates in a n o th e r Conference, som e of w hom I a m g lad to see present here to -day , on th e successful com ple tion of a m o st im p o r ta n t in te rn a tio n a l agreem ent which aim ed a t freeing in te rn a tio n a l com m erce from th e b u rd e n a n d obstac le of excessive, unnecessary an d a rb i t ra ry C ustom s fo rm alities

H ere to -d ay we a re facing a se t of p rob lem s which, th o u g h d ifferen t in form , are really very m uch ak in in ch a rac te r . W h a t we a re t ry in g to do in th is Conference, as I u n d e rs tan d it, is to t r y to free in te rn a tio n a l traffic from th e m an ifo ld obstacles, som e a rb itra ry , som e unnecessary, an d som e inequ itab le , w hich h in d e r th e fu ll a n d th e free deve lo p m en t of in te rn a tio n a l commerce, an d I confidently h ope th a t u n d e r y o u r gu idance i t will on ly be a v e ry sh o rt tim e (and, Mr. Pre­sident, th e sho rte r th e b e tte r , because we a re all b u sy m en , anx ious to com ple te our task) before we shall again be exchanging c o n g ra tu la tio n s in th is h a ll on h av in g com p le ted another stage tow ards th e p rac tica l rea lisa tio n of th e g re a t p rinc ip les of free t r a n s i t a n d com m unications and the equ itab le tre a tm e n t of com m erce w hich are ensh rin ed in A rtic le 23 of th e Covenant of the League of N ations.

I am confident th a t in w h a t I h av e ju s t sa id I a m voicing th e se n tim e n ts of every part of the B ritish Em pire. N evertheless, I th in k i t d esirab le to s ta te precisely a t th e o u tse t of these pro­ceedings th a t, in rep resen ting th e B ritish E m p ire here , i t is to be u n d e rs to o d th a t neither my voice nor m y vote no r m y s ig n a tu re b in d in a n y w ay those p a r ts of th e B ritish E m pire which, as Members of the League of N ations, a re e n ti t le d to s e p a ra te re p re se n ta tio n a t th is Conference. 1 h a t is to say, it does n o t b in d th e m or affect th e m in a n y w ay excep t in so fa r as th e Governments of certa in p a r ts of th e B ritish E m p ire h a v e a sk ed m e perso n a lly to w a tch over their interests I have received such in v ita tio n s from th e G o v e rn m en ts of In d ia a n d S o u th Africa, and I need hard ly say th a t I shall be g lad to do m y b e s t to com ply w ith th e ir req u es t w ithou t, however, exercising any separa te vo te on th e ir behalf.

M ay I tak e th is o p p o rtu n ity of say ing w h a t a g re a t p leasure i t is to m e to see among us a rep resen ta tive of th e youngest D om inion, Mr. Mac W h ite , of th e I r ish F ree S ta te .

The ta sk before th e Conference is a g re a t one, a n d our p ro g ram m e is ve ry full ; very stea } and serious application will be req u ired in o rd e r to cover th e g ro u n d in a reasonable time. ® are s tarting , however, w ith a g rea t in itia l a d v a n ta g e , co m p ared w ith all p rev ious C o n feren ces 0

an economic n a tu re which have been convened b y th e L eague of N ations.Look back a t the Conference a t Brussels, th e Conference a t B arcelona a n d th e la te Conference

a ene\ a. W e canno t fail to see how m uch of th e ir energies h a d to be ex p en d ed upon bull 1 Sup rom the foundations an d c rea ting a p rocedure a n d in som e cases a p e rm an en t organisa i° to carry on the work.

exn(THmr!,rn\ u l t e r , ' n t0 t h a t in h e r i ta n c e . F o r e x a m p le , w e h a v e b e h in d u s the a c c u m u l a t e

0 arcelona. W e are w o rk in g u n d e r t h e ru le s w h ic h were d r a w n u p a t Barce

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The program m e before us is an o u tg ro w th , in fa c t a legacy, from th e B arcelona p rog ram m e. Large parts of it a re , indeed , im plic it in th e reco m m en d a tio n s of th a t Conference a n d th e d ra f ts which we hav e before us h a v e been ad m ira b ly w ork ed o u t in d e ta il b y th e S tan d in g C om m ittee which was itself a c rea tio n of th e B arce lo n a Conference.

May I ta k e th is o p p o r tu n i ty of ten d erin g our w arm th a n k s to th a t C om m ittee , a n d also to the Secretariat, for th e skill a n d lab o u r w hich th e y h a v e expended on these d ra fts , w hich wrill tend g re a t ly to lig h ten a n d ex p ed ite o u r w ork. These are g re a t ad v a n ta g e s a n d th e y are fu r th e r increased b y th e fac t th a t n o t on ly o u r p ro g ram m e b u t also m a n y of th e faces w hich we see around us are links w ith th e B arce lo n a Conference. W e are here n o t as s tran g e rs b u t we are in the presence of o ld friends, friends w ho h av e m e t a n d d iscussed these to p ics before. W e hav e frequently differed, b u t m ore o ften h a v e in th e long ru n agreed, a n d in a n y ev en t we h a v e com e to understand th e p o in t of view of o thers.

The resu lt of a conference like th is , w here so m a n y different p o in ts of view are rep resen ted , must inev itab ly be a com prom ise. W e can n o t all o b ta in all th a t we desire. W e h av e to seek not to vote dow n critics w ith w hom we differ b u t to t r y to u n d e rs ta n d th e ir special p o in t of view, and, if possible, to reconcile i t w ith th e b ro ad principles a t w'hich we are a ll aim ing.

The view of th e B ritish de leg a tio n on these m a tte rs is v e ry simple. W e h a v e a n E ng lish proverb th a t “h a lf a loaf is b e t te r th a n no b re a d ” . W e shall endeavour to secure th e whole loaf, and, failing th a t , as big a p ro p o r tio n as can , b y com m on consent, be o b ta in ed ; b u t w e w ould rather get th re e -q u a r te rs o r even h a lf a loaf, th ro u g h an ag reem en t w idely accep ted a n d ratified , than obtain th e delusive a p p ea ran ce of th e whole loaf th ro u g h an ag reem ent th a t h a rd ly anyone will accept. W e on ly m ak e one co nd ition , b u t it is a v ita l one: th e loaf, o r th e h a lf loaf, or even the quarter loaf m u s t be good so u n d b read .

We confidently h ope th a t wTe sha ll secure g re a t progress. W e will be c o n ten t, if necessary , with a lim ited p rog ress p ro v id ed i t is real. W h a t we will n o t do is consen t to m ove b ackw ards. We do n o t w ish to endorse w ith ou r s ig n a tu re a n y artic les of a C onvention w hich, u n d e r th e necessity of concilia ting o p p o site p o in ts of view, m a y be so fram ed th a t th e y w ould in ou ropinion be re tro g rad e in th e ir p ra c tic a l effect. Sooner th a n th is we wrould prefer to w a it u n ti lthese p articu lar m a t te r s a re r ip e r for g en era l ag reem ent.

This i t n o t th e tim e to discuss e ith e r of th e d ra f ts before us in de ta il, m u ch less to amendments. In d u e course we shall h a n d in to th e S ec re ta ria t such few a m e n d m en ts as we may have to propose, a ll of w'hich I th in k will be fo u n d consisten t w ith th e m a in purposes of th e draft C onventions a n d w h ich a im ra th e r a t c larify ing th e ir m eaning th a n a t in troduc ing a n y newprinciples.

Turning now to p rocedure , i t w as w ith very g re a t p leasure th a t we h e a rd y o u r proposals for the prac tica l o rg an isa tio n a n d p ro ced u re of th is Conference. I need h a rd ly say th a t th eBritish delegation gives i ts co rd ia l adhesion to all th a t you propose.

I wTould like to m ake a special reference to th e discussion of w h a t I m a y call th e p ro toco l articles, which a re p ra c tic a lly iden tica l in all th e d ra f t C onventions. I p resum e th a t i t w ould not be your in te n tio n to re fe r th e m to th e special C om m ittees on R ailw ays, P o r ts an d E lectric Questions. I t seem s to m e th a t th e re w ould be a g rea t overlapping if th ree co m m ittees wrere dealing with these su b jec ts a t th e sam e tim e. I propose, if you consider it possible, t h a t in d u e course a small com m ittee shou ld be ap p o in te d to dea l w ith these p ro tocol articles.

I have o n ly one o th e r p o in t to m en tion . A t th e beginning of th e C ustom s F o rm a litie s Conference only e igh t delegations, I th in k , had received full powers to sign. B y th e end of the Conference th is n u m b e r h a d risen to tw en ty - tw o . I do n o t know w h a t m a y be th e positio n to-day. b u t I v e n tu re to re p e a t th e a p p e a l w hich I m ade a t th e beginning of th e C ustom s Confer­ence to all delegations w hich h a v e n o t received full powers, to app ly fo r th w ith to th e ir G o v ern ­ments to furnish th e m w ith such pow ers a t th e ea rlie s t possible m om en t, so th a t w hen th e C on­vention has been a d o p te d (as I h ope it will be) b y th e Conference our w ork m a y be c row ned b y a goodly list of s ig n a tu re s h ere a n d now.

The P r e s i d e n t : [T ra n s la tio n .] I am in sy m p a th y w ith th e desire expressed b y S ir H u b e r t Llewellyn Sm ith , a n d I t r u s t th a t de leg a tes will m ake every endeavour to o b ta in w ith o u t d e lay |he necessary pow ers to en ab le th e m to sign co nven tions w hen ou r w ork is finished. I t w ould e unfortunate if, a f te r a long d iscussion , we fo u n d th a t som e of us h ad n o t th e req u ired powers.

M. W iniarski will now a d d re ss th e Conference.

M. W i n i a r s k i (Poland) : [ Translation .] G entlem en, a t th e opening of th e Second G eneral onference on C om m un ica tio n s a n d T ra n s it th e P olish D elegation desires to convey to th e C on­

ference th e cord ial g ree tin g s of its G o v ern m en t, w hich welcomes th e Conference as an expression U “ e firm in ten tio n of all n a t io n s to p u sh on w ith th e g rea t w ork of reconstru c tio n . T he very t ame °f th e Second G enera l C onference is a s tr ik in g evidence of th e ir perseverance in th is d irec- Usonh We have m et h ere n o t m ere ly to d iscuss a n d a d o p t th e d ra f t co n v en tio n s su b m itte d to 5 but also to co n tin u e th e w ork w'hich w as d one b y th e F ir s t Conference a t B arcelona.

j. ^ ut how v ery d iffe ren t is th e t r a n s p o r t s i tu a tio n now from w h a t it w as a t th e beginning of j21, before th e B arce lona Conference ! All th e evidence show s a considerab le im p ro v em en t in

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in te rn a tio n a l co m m unica tions — an im p ro v em en t p rim arily due to th e ad m irab le energy 0f those n a tio n s w hich suffered m o st severely from th e w ar. F ro m th e p u re ly techn ica l standpoint i t ap pears th a t all, o r a lm o st all, t h a t w as h u m a n ly possib le u n d e r p resen t conditions has been done. T his success w as in la rge m easu re d u e to a series of in te rn a tio n a l conven tions and agree­m en ts , th e influence of w hich is being felt, in m a n y cases, b eyond th e fron tie rs of the States by w hich th e y w ere concluded.

I t is scarcely necessary to a llude here to th e C onven tions of P o r to R o sa a n d S tresa and the recen t revision of th e B erne C onvention . A re m a rk a b ly able re p o r t b y o u r earliest collaborator Colonel Mance, p rep a red in com pliance w ith a reso lu tio n of th e G enoa Conference and under th e auspices of ou r O rgan isa tion , confirm s, in genera l, th e s ta te m e n ts w hich I have made, and we m a y say th a t th e t r a n s p o r t q u es tio n h as lo s t i t s te ch n ica l ch a ra c te r an d h a s becom e an economic problem .

T he p rin c ip a l difficulties in connec tion w ith th e in te rn a tio n a l t r a n s p o r t s itu a tio n in Europi are due to th e econom ic consequences of th e w ar. T he in s ta b ili ty of th e exchange and the lack of foreign c red its now c o n s ti tu te th e m o st serious obstac le to th e re s to ra tio n of th e norm al state of com m unica tions, a n d therefo re rep re sen t an in te rn a tio n a l p rob lem of th e first importance an d a t th e sam e tim e, p e rh ap s , a to u ch s to n e of in te rn a tio n a l so lid a rity . T here is li ttle doubt t h a t t h e Second G eneral C onference w ill m ore th a n once be ca lled u p o n to m ee t th is difficulty.

A p a r t from th e econom ic a n d financia l aspec t, w hich I hav e felt i t necessary to allude to here, i t is p roper to em phasise once m ore th e p rogress w hich h a s been m ad e in th e work of inter­n a tio n a l com m unica tions, th a n k s to th e energy a n d te n a c i ty d isp layed b y th e various nations in overcom ing a t least, to a la rge e x te n t , d ifficulties w hich seem ed insuperab le . I would draw y o u r a t te n t io n for a m o m en t to a single in s tan ce : t h a t of th e c o u n try w hich I have the honour to represen t.

A t th e tim e of th e B arce lona C onference th e ra ilw ay s i tu a tio n in P o lan d w as ex trem ely serious In all p a r ts of th e fo rm er R u ss ia n P o la n d th e m ileage of t r a c k as co m p ared w ith the area of the co u n try w as hopelessly in a d e q u a te to its econom ic needs. M oreover, fo r s tra teg ic reasons, the R u ssian G o vernm en t h a d a lw ays refused to link u p i ts sy s tem w ith th e G erm an and Austrian system s, and , w ith few excep tions, th e ra ilw ay lines in fo rm er R u ss ian P o la n d ended 20 or 30 kilo m e tres from th e o ld fron tiers . E v e n now th e ex is ting lines a re n o t a d e q u a te to ca rry all the coal needed in R u ss ian P o la n d from th e Cracow a n d D om brow a a n d U p p e r Silesia m ining districts. In add ition to these difficulties th e re a re o th e rs arising o u t of th e d e lim ita tio n of fron tiers in Eastern P russia a n d U p p e r Silesia.

N one th e less, th e len g th of t r a c k in w ork ing o rd e r h a s increased from 7,413 kilom etres in 1919 to 16,750 k ilom etres a t th e p re sen t t im e ; we h a v e co n v e rted m ore th a n 1,000 kilom etres of broad- gauge (Russian) t r a c k to th e n o rm a l g auge an d b u ilt 221 k ilo m etres of th e m o st essential lines, w hile an o th e r 252 k ilom etres a re u n d e r co n s tru c tio n . I f we ad d m o re th a n 3,000 kilometres of narrow -gauge track , we h av e now, ro u g h ly speak ing , 20,000 k ilom etres of rail w ay-track , so that we ta k e th e fo u rth place am ong th e co u n trie s of C en tra l a n d W este rn E urope.

The w ar, wrh ich las ted , as fa r as P o la n d w as concerned , u n ti l 1920, d e s tro y ed th e entire Polish system several tim es over, ex cep t in th e c o m p a ra tiv e ly sm all a rea w hich w as form erly Prussian Poland. To show th e e x te n t of th e d am ag e I will g ive a few figures : 7,500 b ridges were destroyed, including th e San a n d N iem en b ridges, 300 a n d 200 m e tre s long respec tive ly ; 93 stations; 940 office build ings an d w arehouses; 357 w a te r- ta n k s ; 1,358 dw elling-houses — n o t to mention tech­nical in s ta lla tions such as te lephone, te leg rap h a n d signalling a p p a ra tu s .

The la t te r hav e been re c o n s tru c te d to m ee t th e req u irem en ts of m o d e rn technique; some of th e bu ild ings h a v e on ly been te m p o ra r i ly reb u ilt .

I t is h a rd ly necessary to rem in d y o u how g re a t w as th e sh o rtag e of ro lling-stock when Poland took possession of h e r ra ilw ay sy s tem in 1919. H ere ag a in we can show a ra p id improvement. The n u m ber of locom otives h a s increased from 2,064 in I 9 I 9 to 4,968 in 1923. T he corresponding figures for passenger coaches a re 4,859 a n d 11,158; for goods tru ck s , 41,953 a n d 117,718. The num ber of passengers carried in 1919 w as 61,452,770; in 1923 it will be 180 millions. The to ta l goods traffic, w'hich w as 11,475,663 ton s , w ill a m o u n t to 100 m illion tons.

In 1914 all the ro lling-stock used on th e sy s te m s in th e th ree p a r ts of P o lan d was constructed in workshops ou tside Polish te rr i to ry . W e h a v e b u il t or co n v e rted fac to ries an d workshops, and we are now m aking goods tru c k s ; in a sh o rt t im e we shall b e able to b u ild passenger coaches and loco­motives. All th is w ork has been accom plished o u t o f our ow n resources, w ith o u t recourse to foreign credits and w ith o u t tran sfe rr in g th e b u rd en to fu tu re genera tions.

E xp en d itu re on railw ay reco n stru c tio n is th e h eav ie s t item in ou r b u d g e t. The draconian

m easures tak en b y our F inan ce M inister in o rd e r to effect th e necessary econom ies will no doubt

delay th is reconstruction w ork fo r a c e r ta in period ; b u t th e m o st im p o r ta n t p a r t of it has alrea } been done.

B y adhering to general conven tions an d b y concluding tre a tie s a n d ag reem en ts with her neigh bouis, P o land has now becom e, and w ill soon becom e to an even g re a te r e x te n t , an important in m in ternational trade . T h an k s to th e trem en d o u s effort she has m ade P o lan d is in a positioito perform the w ork im posed upon her b y h e r geog raph ica l s itu a tio n . She is a great ^ran\ country and has no desire to follow a n a rro w a n d selfish policy w hich w ould m ake her an obs ac0 in ternational traffic. On th e c o n tra ry she p laces h e r m ean s of co m m u n ica tio n a t the disp°

rvT n r f û r n XA ^ 1 1 f , < _ -1 . . . . 1. i i t m O 'r • , cane y i a u c d u c i m e a n s v i t u i m i u u i i t a L i u i * — +m nst

° in ernational trade , fo r she is convinced th a t b y open ing wide h e r g a tes she is m aking her u i n v , . 11tl0n streng then ing of peace. I m u s t apologise for h av in g dw elt a t such eng

e °hsh tra n sp o rt s itua tion , b u t i t seem s to m e to be th e m o st s tr ik ing instance 0 im provem ents which have been effected in th is sphere.

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If th e m a te r ia l cond itions of t ra n s p o r t a re fa r b e t te r to -d a y th a n th e y w ere a t th e b eg inn ing of 1921, the Second G eneral C onference h a s also a n o th e r a d v a n ta g e over th e f irs t : it h a s a n estab lished tradition, som e experience a n d a m e th o d o f w orking.

In th is connec tion th e w ork accom plished b y th e A dv iso ry a n d T ech n ica l C o m m ittee m u s t no t be forgotten. T he C o m m ittee is a v a luab le fa c to r in ou r w ork, a n d a t i ts p e riod ica l sessions i t has dealt w ith p rob lem s of th e h ig h es t im portan ce . I t has g a th e re d to g e th e r, a s i t w ere, th e d ifferent threads of effort d irec ted to w ard s th e e s ta b lish m e n t of a new b o d y of in te rn a t io n a l traffic law. It has kep t in to u c h w ith all th e o rgan isa tions, official a n d otherw ise, w ork ing in th e sam e field; it has secured th e co -opera tion of th e h ig h es t a u th o r it ie s on m a tte r s w h ich com e w ith in i t s province.

I can n o t refer to th e A dv iso ry C o m m ittee w ith o u t p ay ing a t r ib u te to th e inde fa tig ab le activity of i ts tw o C hairm en , M. v a n E y s in g a a n d M. F e rn a n d e z y M edina, a n d its Secre ta ry - General, M. H aas , w ho for th e la s t fo u r y ea rs h as successfully en su red th e c o n tin u ity of th e w ork of our P e rm a n e n t O rgan isa tion .

U nder th ese c ircu m stan ces i t is to be h o p ed th a t th e four C onven tions will be successfu lly established ; t h a t th e re will be n o false steps , b u t a lso no u n d u e p rec ip ita tio n . H ere aga in we are fortunate in h av in g th e experience of th e B arce lo n a C onven tions to gu ide us. T he rea so n s w hy the great m a jo r i ty of th e co u n tr ie s h av e d e lay ed th e ra tifica tio n of those C onven tions w ill no doubt be m ade c lear in th e discussion o n ra tif ica tions. I th in k , how ever, th a t even a t th is ea rly stage we can fo rm u la te a sim ple ex p lan a tio n .

The tra d it io n a l m e th o d of n eg o tia tin g ag reem en ts b e tw een Pow ers, slow th o u g h i t was, h a d the advan tage of reconciling , b y com prom ise , th e needs a n d in te re s ts of a ll concerned , a n d those conventions w hich h a v e effected such a com prom ise h av e alw ays endured th e longest. G enera lly speaking, th e d ra f ts w hich a re s u b m itte d to us com bine a bold sp ir it of in n o v a tio n w ith th e com m on sense, th e w isdom a n d th e m o d e ra tio n essen tia l in a w ork of such w ide scope.

The P o lish G o v e rn m en t is f irm ly co nv inced t h a t th e Conference will find m ean s to co n c ilia te all interests, an d i t h a s fu rn ish ed i ts de leg a tio n w ith fu ll pow ers to sign a n y ag reem en t w hich m a y be drawn u p here, p ro v id ed t h a t i t conform s w ith th is im p o r ta n t principle.

Our confidence can b u t be s tre n g th e n e d b y th e d is tingu ished p e rso n a lity of our P re s id en t, and by th e in v a lu ab le w ork w hich he h a s a lre a d y to his cred it. To h im , therefore , I offer th e m ost cordial good w ishes of m y G o v e rn m en t a n d m yself fo r th e success of th e Second G eneral Conference on C om m unications a n d T ra n s it .

Mr. B o o t h (P res id en t o f th e In te rn a t io n a l C h am b er of Commerce) : Mr. P re s id en t a n d G en tle ­men of th e Conference, i t is w ith v e ry g re a t p leasure th a t I , as P re s id e n t of th e In te rn a tio n a l Chamber of Com m erce, p resen t to you o u r co n g ra tu la tio n s up o n th e conven ing of th is Conference, which prom ises so m uch . I sh a re w ith th e p rev io u s speakers in th e ir expressions of c o n g ra tu la ­tion th a t th is C onference sho u ld be fo r tu n a te en o u g h to b e p resided o v e r b y a g en tle m a n w ho has had wide business experience a n d g re a t know ledge in such m a tte rs , an d who w ill b r in g to th e work of th e C onference all t h a t v e ry de lica te w isdom w hich th e s i tu a t io n w ill requ ire . W e join, Sir, in co n g ra tu la tin g th e C onference in h a v in g y o u as P res id en t.

We also desire to ex p ress a t th is t im e to th is C onference a n d to th e L eague th e v e ry g rea t appreciation of th e In te rn a t io n a l C ham ber o f C om m erce for th e m agnificen t w ork d one b y th e Conference on C ustom s F o rm a lit ie s w hich h a s ju s t recen tly ad jo u rn ed .

We felt v e ry h ig h ly h o n o u re d in be ing a llow ed to p a r t ic ip a te in th a t Conference. W e are more than satisfied w ith th e w ork w hich has been done. W e believe t h a t a fo u n d a tio n h as been established b y w hich even m ore co n s tru c tiv e w ork m a y b e done. W e deligh t in th e o p p o r tu n i ty of Government a n d B usiness s i t t in g to g e th e r , side b y side, to can v ass th e ir m u tu a lly necessary problems. W e a p p rec ia te fu ll well th e im p o rta n c e of our s i t t in g here on ly in an ad v iso ry c ap ac ity . We completely recognise o u r position . W e are v e ry th a n k fu l for i t a n d we are th a n k fu l for th e opportunity of s u b m itt in g to you , in G o v ern m en t, th e op in ions w hich we, in B usiness, h a v e to express upon th e m a t te r s u n d e r d iscussion.

We p a r ticu la r ly desire to c o n g ra tu la te th e S ec re ta ry -G en era l of th e L eague a n d th e S ec re ta ry of this Conference on th e v e ry carefu l m e th o d of p re p a ra t io n b y w hich m a t te r s h av e b een a r ran g ed for our discussion, w hich will ex p ed ite o u r w o rk a n d m ake it v e ry m u ch m ore fru itfu l in its final result. I t is a m a t te r for d eep g ra tif ic a tio n t h a t w e c a n go a b o u t o u r business in an o rd e rly w ay, profiting b y th e experience of th e p rev ious Conference, a n d th u s g e t th ro u g h i t as q u ick ly as possible, because, as on e of o u r colleagues h a s so well said , we a re all b u sy m en a n d desire to get oack to our own work.

So far as th e m a t te r u n d e r th e d irec t co n s id e ra tio n of th is C onference is concerned , it is m y Pleasure to s ta te th a t , a t th e m ee tin g of th e In te rn a t io n a l C ham ber of Com m erce in R om e th is year we very care fu lly considered th e b ro a d p rinc ip les u n d e rly in g m o st of th e w ork w hich th is onference will be called upon to consider.

We laid dow n special p rinc ip les in reso lu tions, a n d it is o u r purpose, w ith y o u r perm ission , / ■ a n d w ith th e perm ission of th e S ecre ta ry , to su b m it to you a t th e p ro p e r tim e p r in te d copies j ose resolutions, a s o u tlin in g in princip le th e p ro p o sitio n s to w hich th e In te rn a tio n a l C ham ber

naturally c o m m itted . O u r ve ry able re p re se n ta tiv e , Sir A lan A nderson , a n d his assoc ia tes 1 submit th ese m a t te r s to y o u in p ro p e r form . W e com m end th ese reso lu tions to you for

Conf cons'^ era tio n in th e h ope th a t y o u m a y find in th e m a basis for ac tio n on th e p a r t of th is

, .Again, Sir, I th a n k y o u for th e privilege, a n d fo r th e com plim en t w hich is im p lied in i t , of w n? the In te rn a t io n a l C h am b er of C om m erce rep resen ted here. Speak ing for o rg an ised

‘ness th rou g h o u t th e w orld , we p rom ise to b r in g to you , in th e sam e sp ir it in w hich y o u co n d u c t

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y o u r own activ ities, th e b e s t th a t we have , in an unselfish effort for, a n d in unselfish devotion to , th e cause of m u tu a l goodwill th ro u g h o u t th e w orld. W e will do th e b es t th a t we can, unselfishly and p a tr io tica lly , to assist in a m odest w ay in y o u r de libera tions, a n d we th a n k y o u for the oppor­tu n i ty so to do.

D r. S e e l i g e r (G erm any) : [T ra n sla tio n .] G entlem en, as th e P re s id en t h a s ju s t told usth e L eague of N a tio n s h as been k in d enough, in v ir tu e of A rtic le 2 of th e R ules for Organisation to in v ite G erm any to p a r t ic ip a te in th e d iscussions of th e Second G eneral Conference on Com­m un ica tions a n d T ransit.

As you are aw are, o u r c o u n try is s i tu a te d in th e v e ry cen tre of E urope, a n d is therefore deeply in te re s te d in all th e ques tio n s a n d p rob lem s w hich com e before you. T he G erm an Govern­m ent, therefore , w elcom ed th is in v ita t io n a n d w as g lad to a p p o in t a delegation to tak e part in y o u r w ork, in sp ite of th e d ifficulty of th e s i tu a t io n a t th e p re sen t tim e. I am in s tru c ted by my G overnm ent to convey to y o u its h ea r tie s t th a n k s for th e in v ita tio n .

The G erm an delegation is p re p a re d to co -opera te w ith y o u in th e m ost loyal spirit, and it is m ost anx ious to do i ts u tm o s t to ass is t in th e w ork of th e Conference a n d in its endeavours to achieve p ra c tic a l re su lts or, in o th e r w ords, th e p re p a ra t io n of trea tie s .

G entlem en, th is is n o t th e m o m en t to d iscuss th e v a r io u s p rob lem s before us. I would say one word, how ever, on a m ore genera l question .

A t th e B arce lona C onference o u r em in en t colleague M. B ignam i m oved a recommendation w hich w as ad o p te d b y th e C onference in th e following te rm s :

“T h a t S ta te s h av in g an a b u n d a n t su p p ly of electrical pow er shou ld concede a p a r t of i t to S ta te s in w a n t th e re o f .”

Before I cam e to G eneva, w hen I w as p re p a rin g for m y w ork here, I care fu lly considered th e fu n d a m e n ta l id ea of th is reco m m en d a tio n . A fte r m a tu re reflection I cam e to th e conclusion th a t its scope m igh t well be en larged . I h av e ex am in ed th e prov isions of th e d ra f t Conventions w hich h av e been co m m u n ica ted to u s a n d all th e p rob lem s arising o u t of th em , a n d M. Bignami's idea has ta k e n on in m y m in d a n even g re a te r significance.

W h a t is our ob jec t — o r ra th e r , w h a t sho u ld be o u r o b je c t— in concluding all these treaties? I t should be to realise a un iv e rsa l ideal w hich m a y be expressed in these sim ple w ords : "mutual assistance, reciprocal a id be tw een all th e n a tio n s w hich desire to live a n d develop in peace”.

T hen , how ever, I w as s tr ick en b y d o u b t. I t occu rred to m e th a t p e rh ap s th a t ideal was too h igh to be a tta in ab le .

I rem em bered t h a t b e a u tifu l scene in G o e th e ’s “F a u s t” wdiich y o u all know . Faust sits a t w ork in his s tu d y a n d despa irs of all h u m a n effort. S u d d en ly he hea rs th e bells of the Resur­rection, th e bells of E a s te r , a n d cries in h e a r tb ro k e n to n es : “D ie Botschaft hor' ich wohl, alleinmir fehlt der Glaube.” — “ I h e a r th e m essage, b u t , alas, I hav e no fa i th ” .

In such hours of u n c e r ta in ty I h av e th o u g h t th a t th e fa te of th e g re a t id ea which I have tr ied to fo rm ula te m ig h t b e th e sam e. B u t th e n I rem em b ered th e coun tless lessons of history; I saw how, th ro u g h o u t all h is to ry , g re a t evo lu tions h a v e succeeded ag a in s t all expectations and how dream s w hich seem ed im possib le to o u r an ces to rs a t las t to o k on flesh a n d substance ; how th e hopes of th e p a s t h a v e th u s becom e to -d a y th e com m on h eritag e of h u m a n ity .

H isto ry has re s to red th e cou rage of m y fa ith , a n d I t r u s t th a t if th e Conference is guided b y th e ideal of m u tu a l h e lp b e tw een n a tio n s , of rec iprocal a id am ong all peoples, our work will n o t be unavailing . If w e e a rn es tly e n d eav o u r to ca rry these lo fty p rincip les into all our deliberations, th e tre a tie s we conclude will be of g re a t service to m an k in d . These treaties will m ark a s tage upon th e ro a d th ro u g h th e d a rk n ess a n d th e sorrow s of ou r tim e to a happier and b rig h te r fu ture.

M. H a n s e n (Sweden) : [T ransla tion .] Mr. P re s id en t a n d G en tlem en , th e work of theA dvisory an d Technical C om m ittee since th e B arce lona C onference h a s a roused the keenest in te rest in Sweden.

Sweden has a lw ays endeavoured , to th e b es t of h e r ab ility , to c o n tr ib u te to the extension and im provem ent o f t h e m o ra l an d m a te r ia l re la tio n s be tw een th e na tio n s . She therefore fully appreciates t h e w ork w hich th e A dv iso ry a n d T echn ica l C o m m ittee h as accom plished in th e course of m any long an d laborious m eetings, an d th e ou tcom e of w hich is now before us in th e form of a series of d ra f t conven tions an d agreem ents .

F rom a m ore special po in t of view, Sw eden can n o t b u t be h ig h ly in te re s te d in the draft which are now su b m itted for th e consid e ra tio n of th is Conference. W ith her h ighly develope railw ay systems, w ith her m ig h ty w aterfa lls w hich are a lread y in la rg e m easu re utilised for electric power stations, an d w ith her e x te n s iv e c o a s t - l in e r ic h in wrell-developed p o r ts , Sweden is more c osely concerned th a n an y o th e r c o u n try in all th e q u estions be fo re th e Conference.

In order to give a t th e ou tse t som e ex p lan a tio n of o u r a t t i tu d e to w ard s th e situation, I shou ! 6 t0 lr^ ic a te briefly th e position w hich th e Sw edish d e lega tion w ill ta k e u p w ith r e g a r d to

various d rafts su b m itted to th e Conference. In so do ing I sha ll co m p ly w ith th e wise ruling our P resident and avoid en te ring in to detail.

r d r a f t Convention on th e In te rn a tio n a l R egim e of R ailw ays will fo rm a useful foundation

in ' illventi°n b e t w e e n th e S ta tes . T he p rov is ions w hich it is proposed to incnmxnrirJ1 Alrc4 onvention on R ailw ays are a lread y applied , to a la rg e e x te n t , in Sweden, a * b e nut in+ a , certam m odifications a r e m ade in som e of th e artic les, t h e C o n v e n t io n can ea.

pu t into shape and m eet w ith general approval.

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The C onven tion on th e In te rn a t io n a l R egim e of M aritim e P o r ts ex ten d s to m aritim e p o rts in general th e princip les co n ta in ed in th e S ta tu te on th e R eg im e of N av igab le W a te rw a y s of International Concern a n d raises a n u m b e r of q u estions w hich m igh t, w ith ad v an tag e , be d ea lt with in an in te rn a tio n a l C onvention . Such a C onven tion w ould m ere ly reaffirm p rincip les of equality and l ib e r ty w hich are, a n d h av e long been, in o p era tion in m y co u n try . W hen th is sub jec t is discussed, th e Sw edish de lega tion will offer a few observ a tio n s reg a rd in g th e s tip u la tio n s con ­tained in ce rta in articles.

We now com e to th e d ra f t C onven tion on th e T ransm ission in T ra n s it of E lec tr ic P o w er a n d the d raft C onven tion re la tin g to th e D evelopm ent of H yd rau lic P ow er on W ate rco u rses fo rm ing Part of a B asin s i tu a te d in th e T e rr ito ry of Several S ta tes . B o th these C onven tions deal w ith matters which h av e nev er y e t been th e su b jec t of a n y genera l in te rn a tio n a l C onvention. T heir elaboration h as th e re fo re p re sen ted p ecu lia r difficulties. T he A dvisory a n d T echn ica l C om m ittee itself points o u t th a t i t h a s decided m erely to in tro d u ce a few gu id ing p rinc ip les in to th ese tw o drafts. I t is on ly n a tu ra l th a t th e C om m ittee should d isp lay th e u tm o s t cau tio n w hen tread in g upon ground w h ich h as n o t y e t been explored .

The d ra f t C onven tion on th e T ransm iss io n of E lectric Pow er m igh t, I th in k , lead to th e c o n ­clusion of a C onvention , b u t it is essen tia l th a t considerab le a lte ra tio n s shou ld be m ade. W e m ay reasonably ask w h e th e r it w ou ld n o t be b e tte r , u n d e r th e c ircum stances, m ere ly to lay dow n in th e form of recom m endations th e princ ip les w hich th e Conference w ould like th e v a rio u s S ta te s to put into effect in reg a rd to th e tran sm iss io n of electric power.

Lastly, G en tlem en , w ith reg a rd to th e d ra f t C onvention on th e D evelopm en t of H y d rau lic Power on F ro n tie r W aterco u rses , I w ou ld say q u ite definitely th a t th e qu es tio n s ra ised a re of such a special a n d local c h a ra c te r th a t I th in k i t w ould be b e t te r to leave th e m to be considered by the S ta tes d irec tly concerned . I t m ig h t be desirab le to ad o p t a reco m m en d a tio n w hich w ould merely lay dow n ce r ta in genera l principles.

In conclusion, I sh o u ld like to express m y conviction th a t , even if o u r w ork does n o t resu lt in the adoption of S ta tu te s a n d C onven tions on all th e su b jec ts on th e ag en d a of th e Conference, our discussions will u n d o u b te d ly be of th e h ighest in te re s t an d will p ro v id e us w ith m uch information a n d m a n y ideas of th e u tm o s t value. T h u s our w ork will be of considerab le assistance to o u r com m on a im : th e e s tab lish m en t of closer re la tions am ong all th e peoples of th e world.

M. P o l i t i s (Greece) : [Translation .] A t th e opening of th e w ork of th e In te rn a tio n a l C onference on Freedom of C o m m unica tions a n d T ran s it , I th in k th a t one of th e ea rlie s t w orkers in th is field, a veteran of th e "G reen B o o k ” , m a y be p e rm itte d to p a y a loyal an d m oving t r ib u te to th e m em o ry of a deeply m o u rn ed F ren ch M inister of P u b lic W orks, M. Claveille, u n d e r w hose p residency a n d as a result of w hose in i t ia t iv e th e first d ra f t C onventions su b m itte d to th e B arce lo n a C onference were prepared.

The P r e s i d e n t : [Translation .] I am sure th a t th e Conference w ill associa te itself w ith M. Politis in h is t r ib u te to th e m em o ry of M. Claveille.

I should like to th a n k th e sp eak ers w ho hav e ta k e n p a r t in th e d iscussion to -d ay . As I hop ed , they have all show n th e u tm o s t confidence in th e success of our work. T he Sw edish d e lega te is no exception, for a lth o u g h he offered som e critic ism s he also declared th a t he w ould do h is u tm o s t to assist in th e fo rm u la tio n of sa tis fa c to ry recom m endations.

S E C O N D P L E N A R Y M E E T IN G

Held on Tuesday, December ÿ h , 1923, at 10 a.m.

M. E. C o n t i , Presiden t.

1 Report of the C om m ittee for the V erification of C redentials.

The P r e s i d e n t : [Translation.] T h e first item on th e agenda is th e re p o r t of th e C o m m ittee or the Verification of C redentia ls . I call up o n M. Sibille to ad d ress th e Conference.

M- S i b i l l e (F rance), R a p p o r te u r , re ad h is rep o rt (A nnex 1).

The P r e s i d e n t : [Translation.] I w ould like in th e first place to th a n k M. Sibille a n d th e ^embers of th e C reden tia ls C o m m ittee who h av e been good enough to help us in th is w ork a n d

wake suggestions as to th e decisions w hich shou ld be taken .

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As an E ng lish tra n s la tio n of M. S ibille’s re p o r t has been d is tr ib u te d , I w ould ask the Con­ference w h e th er it w ishes to h a v e th e E n g lish t e x t read .

Mr. B a l d w i n (B ritish E m pire) : T he B ritish D elega tion w ould be p e rfec tly c o n te n t not t o have th e te x t re a d in E ng lish as i t h a s a lre a d y been d is tr ib u ted .

T he P r e s i d e n t : [Translation.] I w ill now p u t to th e v o te th e conclusions of the Com­m itte e ’s report.

T he C om m ittee proposes, in th e first p lace, t h a t all pow ers to conclude a n d sign agreements should be verified b y th e S ecre ta ria t.

This conclusion of the report was adopted.

T he P r e s i d e n t : [Translation.] T he second conclusion lays dow n ru les as to the States th e rep resen ta tiv es of w hich a re au th o rised to ta k e p a r t in th e w ork of th e Conference.

The second conclusion was adopted.

T he P r e s i d e n t : [Translation.] T he conclusions of th e re p o r t are ad o p ted .Before p assing to th e n e x t item on th e ag enda , I sh o u ld like to ask th o se delegates who have

n o t received pow ers to sign th e C onven tion w hich we are a b o u t to a p p ro v e to req u es t the ir respec­tiv e G overnm en ts b y te leg ram to g ra n t th e m such pow ers as soon as possible. In th is way we hope th a t those w ho h a v e he lped to w ard s th e success of o u r w ork will b e ab le to sign the Con­ven tion w hich is th e f ru i t of o u r labours.

2. Report of the C om m ittee on the R ules o f Procedure.

T he P r e s i d e n t : [Translation.] T h e n e x t i te m on th e ag en d a is th e d e b a te on the conclu­sions of th e rep o rt of th e C om m ittee on th e R u les of P rocedure .

I call up o n M. W in ia rsk i to add ress th e Conference.

M. W i n i a r s k i (Poland), R a p p o r te u r , re a d h is re p o r t (A nnex 2).

T he P r e s i d e n t : [Translation.] I shou ld like to th a n k M. W in ia rsk i for th e report whichhe has su b m itte d to us a n d I w ould a sk th e Conference, as I d id w ith reg a rd to th e report of the C redentials C om m ittee , w h e th e r i t considers i t necessary th a t th e E ng lish tra n s la t io n of M. Winiar- sk i's rep o rt shou ld be read .

Colonel B a l d w i n (B ritish E m pire) : to have i t read.

T h e B rit ish D elegation does n o t consider i t necessary

T he P r e s i d e n t : [Translation .] I will now p u t to th e v o te th e conclusions of the report.

The conclusions of the report, on being put to the vote, were adopted unanimously.

3. Report of th e R ailw ays C om m ittee on the Convention and Statute on the InternationalRegim e of R ailw ays.

(See proceedings of the Railways Committee, published separately).

4. D iscussion of the Convention and Statute on the International R eg im e of Railways.

(See proceedings of the Railways Committee, published separately.)

5. Proposal of M. Pusta w ith regard to Traffic carried under Successive Contracts.

(See proceedings of the Railways Committee, published separately.)

6. Vote on the Convention and Statute on the International R eg im e of R ailw ays as a whole.

(See proceedings of the Railways Committee, published separately.)

T H IR D P L E N A R Y M E E T IN G

Held on Tuesday, December 4th, 1 9 2 3 , at 4 p.m.

M. E . C o n t i , P res id en t.

1. Report on the Work of the Advisory and T echnical C om m ittee s ince the Barcelona C o n f e r e n c e .

J*he P r e s i d e n t : [Translation.] T h e n e x t i t e m o n t h e a g e n d a i s t h e r e a d i n g of the Rep®|fpr 6 , \ ° can"ied ou t b y th e A dvisory a n d T echn ica l C om m ittee since th e Barcelona

ence ( nnex 3). I call upon M. van E y s in g a to ad d ress th e Conference.

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M. van E y s i n g a (N etherlands) : [Translation.] Y ou h a v e done m e th e honour, Sir, to allow me to su b m it to th e C onference a few re m a rk s on th e w ork carried o u t b y th e A d v iso ry a n d T echnical C o m m ittee since o u r first conference a t B arcelona.

I t is indeed a p leasu re for m e to su b m it th is re p o r t to th e Conference, because I , like all th e members of th e A d v iso ry C om m ittee , p reserve v e ry p lea san t recollections of th e five sessions which we h a v e held successively h e re a t G eneva.

W hen th e A dv iso ry C om m ittee first m e t r a th e r m ore th a n tw o y e a rs ago, it fo u n d on its agenda th e c o n tin u a tio n of th e w ork begun a t B arcelona, th a t is to say , tw o genera l C onven tions yet to be co m p le ted : th e C on v en tio n on ra ilw ays, w hich we h av e ju s t u n a n im o u s ly a d o p ted , and th a t on po rts .

A part from th a t , how ever, th e C om m ittee h a s been obliged, if I m a y use th e expression , to m ap out i ts ow n course. I em phasise th is fa c t because c e r ta in o th e r techn ica l o rgan isa tions of the League of N a tio n s a re m ore fo r tu n a te in th is respect, in th a t th e Council itse lf o ften e n tru s ts them w ith v e ry defin ite w ork. I m a y m en tion , for instance , th e F inan c ia l O rgan isa tion , w hich h as received such v a lu ab le g u id an ce from th e Council. B u t w h a t h a s been th e ru le in th e case of th e Financial O rg an isa tio n h a s been th e ex cep tion in th e case of our ow n o rgan isa tion . T he Council does, nevertheless, avail itse lf from tim e to tim e of its r ig h t to consult us, and , while speak ing of the a s s is tan ce w hich we h av e re n d e red th e Council, I m u s t m en tion th e q u es tio n of th e ra ilw ays in the Saar te r r i to ry ; I h av e p a r t ic u la r p leasu re in referring to th is m a t te r h ere— a s I d id p re ­viously in th e C om m ittee— since tw o of th o se w ho were chiefly responsible for th e so lu tion of th e problem, M. H ero ld a n d Mr. M arrio tt, are b o th m em bers of th is Conference.

But th a t w as a n excep tion , a n d as a genera l ru le th e A dviso ry an d T echn ical C om m ittee , as I said, w as ob liged to m a p o u t i ts own course. Indeed , i t was a t th e second m ee tin g of o u r Committee, in M arch 1922, t h a t we en d eav o u red to a sce rta in w h a t su b jec ts w ould be su itab le for our co n sidera tion w ith a view to ca rry in g o u t th e in ten tio n s of A rtic le 23 (e) of th e C ovenan t, which co n s ti tu te s o u r ch a r te r .

Gentlemen, I w ill n o t re a d you th e m a n y o b se rv a tio n s -— th e re are tw elve of th e m — w hich you will find in A nnex 3. I will on ly s a y th a t , w hen seeking for sub jec ts su itab le for i ts consid e ra ­tion, your C om m ittee w as c o n s ta n tly g u id ed b y th e wise adv ice so o ften g iven to u s b y th e m a n who occupied th e sea t w hich you , sir, now so ab ly fill: I refer to th a t g re a t h is to r ia n a n d em in en t French s ta te sm a n M. H a n o ta u x . H e o f te n re p e a te d to u s — a n d q u ite r ig h tly — t h a t th e O rgan isa ­tion for C om m unications a n d T ra n s it , like a ll th e o th e r o rgan isa tions of th e L eague of N atio n s , should no t d u p lica te th e w ork of th e m a n y associations, o rgan isa tions a n d in s t i tu te s w hich in the in te rna tiona l w o rld a re a lre a d y d ea ling w ith th e su b jec ts in w hich w e are in te res ted .

We m ust n o t in te rfe re w ith th e w ork w hich is being ad m irab ly p erfo rm ed elsew here b y o thers . We must n o t be w h a t th e E ng lish call “b u sy b o d ie s” .

It is obvious, sir, t h a t th e n u m ero u s su b jec ts w hich hav e a lre a d y been for som e t im e on th e agenda of our C o m m ittee a re n o t all r ipe for discussion b y a genera l conference. A sh o r t w hile ago there w as even reason to fea r t h a t th e Second G eneral Conference w as on ly to w ork , so to speak, on w h a t rem a in ed of B arce lo n a — on th e tw o genera l C onven tions w hich h a d n o t y e t been adopted. I t w as th e n — a n d I tak e special p leasu re in em phasising th e fa c t — th a t I t a ly saved the s itu a tio n . W h en speak in g of I ta ly , m a y I a t th e sam e t im e m en tio n th e n am e of M. Bignami. Indeed , i t is to h im th a t we owe th e fac t th a t th e O rgan isa tion for C o m m unica tions a n d Transit was ab le to c o n tin u e i ts d ev e lo p m en t since B arcelona. In fac t, i t is th a n k s to h im th a t we find on our ag en d a som e ex trem e ly im p o r ta n t su b jec t-m a tte r , w hich we h o p e will com e before th e general Conference in a few days.

W hen I say th is , sir, I th in k I shou ld a d d th a t w e all reg a rd i t as a ve ry fo r tu n a te coincidence that the Second T ra n s it Conference, th e ag en d a of w hich is in g re a t p a r t I ta l ia n in ^origin, should be presided o v e r b y yourself, an I ta l ia n . Y ou know, sir, th a t b o th in te rn a tio n a l in s t i tu ­tions and th e ir d ev e lo p m en t a n d in te rn a tio n a l law owe m uch to y o u r c o u n try . I need n o t go into the m a t te r a t g r e a t le n g th now , a n d I will on ly cite one fa c t : w hen y o u r c o u n try w as re u n ite d ln the middle of th e la s t c e n tu ry , one o f th e leaders of I ta ly w as the g re a t sa v a n t a n d s ta te sm a n -'lancini. T here a re c e r ta in ly few m en to w hom th e evo lu tion of in te rn a tio n a l law in th e m idd le °f the n ine teen th c e n tu ry owes m ore th a n to Mancini. B u t i t is n o t on ly in re sp ec t of these questions th a t we a re in d e b t to I ta ly , fo r I m ig h t, sir, quo te th e n am e of one of y o u r fam ous countrymen, n o t in th e n in e te e n th b u t in th e s ix teen th cen tu ry , th e senior a n d th e recognised predecessor of o u r G ro tiu s , A lberico G entile.

When we re a d th e w orks of th is g re a t ju r is t we a lread y find in th e m th is idea : th e g re a t id ea common in te rn a tio n a l law th a t m a rit im e p o rts shou ld be open to a ll flags. W e h a v e n o t g o t

^ far as th a t ye t, a n d to -d a y we a re on ly s ta t in g th a t p o rts should be open to th e flags of all C on­tracting S tates.

I shall no t go in to th e d e ta ils , sir, of all th e w ork of th e C om m ittee , fo r you will find th e m |n docum ent w h ich is befo re you. T h e new C om m ittee w hich is to be a p p o in te d b y th is con- erence will c e r ta in ly w elcom e a n y suggestions w hich m em bers are good enough to su b m it, a n d , j?en such suggestions a re n o t s u b m itte d h ere a n d now it will a lw ays be g lad to receive th e m

rough the post. I f no suggestions a re m ad e , we m ig h t tak e n o te of th a t d o cum en t.

. May I, how ever, offer one genera l o b se rv a tio n concern ing th e w ork of o u r C om m ittee . In te r -national com m issions ex is ted before th e e s tab lish m en t of th e L eague of N a tio n s ; in te rn a tio n a l

i J ' - - - — *

0 States. In fac t these in te rn a tio n a l com m issions were pu re ly official bodies. N ow , th e ch a rac -° s 't ^ '^ 1011 w as c a n "ied on b y these o rgan isa tions, which were all com posed of rep re sen ta tiv e s

tefistic of the new o rg an isa tio n s of th e L eague of N a tio n s — a n d th is is im p o r ta n t a s re g a rd s th e

— 28 —

elastic ity of th e L eague — is th a t all its techn ica l com m ittees , a n d first a n d forem ost our own which are com posed of m em bers ap p o in te d b y th e d ifferen t G o v ern m en ts h av e collaborated and con tinue to co llabo ra te w ith th e in d e p e n d e n t in s t i tu t io n s w hich I h a v e ju s t m entioned.

T hus th e A dv iso ry C om m ittee n o t on ly co -opera tes w ith th e R iv e r C om m issions b u t also with th e rep resen ta tiv es of aeronau tics, of m o to r traffic a n d even w ith th e rep resen ta tiv es of certain g rea t Churches, p a r tic u la r ly th e H o ly See.

This is a phenom enon w hich is v e ry in te re s tin g from th e p o in t of view of th e efficiency of our o rgan isa tio n ’s w ork, a n d I, as a p ro fessor of law , w ould say also from th e p o in t of view of the developm ent of in te rn a tio n a l law.

I desire once m ore to stress th e fac t th a t th e C onference is co n tin u in g to c a r ry o u t this policy, since it includes am ong its m em bers de legates of th e In te rn a t io n a l C ham ber of Commerce, and of th e In te rn a tio n a l R a ilw ay U nion , w ho hav e ren d ered us m o st v a lu ab le assistance.

In conclusion, sir, you will p e rh ap s allow m e to m ak e a re m a rk w hich I w ould no t like to om it. W hen we look closely in to th e t ru ly s tr ik in g d ev e lo p m en t of o u r o rgan isa tion since its first beginnings in P a r is in th e B o u lev ard S t. G erm ain , w here a p re p a ra to ry com m ittee met at th e suggestion of F r a n c e — w hen we consider its p rogress, we are led to w onder if it was only b rough t ab o u t b y th a t necessary evo lu tio n to w hich M ontesqu ieu a t ta c h e d so m u ch importance, or if it w as th e resu lt of th e fac t th a t a g re a t n u m b e r of d is tin g u ish ed m en g a th e re d together from th e ends of th e ea r th , first a t B arce lona a n d th e n here, o r if, beside th ese tw o fac to rs and above them , there h a s n o t been a gu id ing sp ir it w a tch in g over ou r o rgan isa tion .

G entlem en, we realise w ith th e u tm o s t g ra t i tu d e th e ex is tence of th a t gu id ing spirit, that all-foreseeing m in d w hich was a lread y w orking for th e connec tion of th e L eague of Nations with these questions a t a tim e w hen m a n y of us d id n o t y e t realise such a possib ility , th a t ever-opti- m istic an d never-pessim istic h e a r t , t h a t em in en tly su b tle b ra in y e t endow ed w ith such clear- cu t ideas, th a t in te llec t w hich h as a lw ays fo u n d th e p ro p e r fo rm ula , th a t perso n a lity which is alw ays a t h a n d even w hen, as o ften occurs, i t is called fo r in tw o C om m ittees a t th e same time. I refer to th a t co llab o ra to r who is so h ig h ly va lu ed b y all, b y th e P re s id e n ts of th e Conference, of th e C om m ittees an d of th e Sub-C om m ittees, an d who is th e v e ry soul of ou r Organisation.

Mr. P res iden t, I h av e n o t ascended th is p la tfo rm to p a y b a n a l com plim ents , b u t I do not w an t to b ring to a close th e few o b se rv a tio n s w hich y o u h av e p e rm itte d m e to m ak e to this Con­ference w ith o u t h av in g p a id a sincere t r ib u te to th a t m a n w hom w e all esteem a n d adm ire and for w hom we all hav e th e g rea te s t affection — I re fe r to ou r excellen t Secre tary -G enera l, th a t truly em inent m an M. H aas.

T he P r e s i d e n t : [Translation .] I th a n k M. v an E y s in g a on b eha lf of all th e delegates an d of all th o se m em bers of various a d m in is tra tio n s w ho h av e assis ted us, a n d also on behalf of th e A dvisory a n d T echnical C om m ittee . I also w ish to th a n k h im p ersona lly for th e compli­m en ta ry rem ark s he w as good enough to m ak e b o th a b o u t m yself a n d ab o u t m y country.

M. v an E y sin g a d id n o t m erely tell us w h a t th e w ork of th e A dv iso ry a n d Technical Com­m ittee h ad been d u rin g th e las t tw o y e a rs b u t he also expressed a w ish w ith w hich we will certainly associate ourselves : t h a t th is w ork shou ld con tin u e a n d th a t it m a y in th e fu tu re render further valuable assistance to th e ev en tu a l ev o lu tion of in te rn a tio n a l law. I am sure th a t all the dele­gates will jo in in th is las t wish.

There is no need for an y discussion of th e re p o r t w hich y o u h a v e ju s t heard . I t will merely be p u t on record th a t th e Conference h a s ta k e n cognisance of th e re p o r t on th e w ork of the Advi­so ry and Technical C om m ittee a n d th a t it expresses th e desire to w hich I h a v e just referred.

The Conference took note of the report.

2. R e p o r t o n th e M easures taken in Execution of the D ecis ions of the Barcelona Conference.

The P r e s i d e n t : [Translation .] T he n e x t item on th e ag en d a is th e read ing of the reporton th e m easures ta k e n in execution of th e decisions of th e B arce lona C onference (Annex 4).

I w ould rem ind you th a t th e Chinese delegation h as su b m itte d a m em o ran d u m (Annex 5) I call on M. O uang H ang to speak.

M. O u a n g H a n g (China) : [Translation .] W h en s u b m itt in g th e m em orandum from m} Governm ent, m ay I po in t ou t th a t th e tre a t ie s m en tio n ed in th a t d o cu m en t are treaties v.hi'" w ere forced upon us during a period in w hich C hina w as in a po s itio n of isolation. These treaties,

being established on a pure ly u n ila te ra l basis, set u p in C hina a special regim e in respect of cer ain po rts and certa in m eans of com m unications, th u s su b je c tin g o u r n a tio n to a species of politic3 and economic dom ination w hich has h a d a m ost u n fo r tu n a te effect on th e developm ent hot ° th e in ternal ad m in is tra tion of th e c o u n try a n d of its in te rn a tio n a l re la tions. .

The C hinese G overnm ent cherishes no illusions as to th e e x te n t of th e po litical c o n s id e ra tio n ,

an rivalries which have insp ired th e tre a t ie s in question . N evertheless, th e g rea t war appear to dem onstra te th a t th e forces w orking fo r un ion an d econom ic reconstruc tion throug

e xvor d are m ore powerful to -d ay th a n ever th e y w ere. T h e h is to rica l m ission of the ^ e”e T?n on Com m unications a n d T ra n s it is th e ach ievem en t of such u n ion a n d reconstruct

e as m gton Conference h as a lready ta k e n th e first in te rn a tio n a l s te p to w ard s th e sett e of questions pending in th e F a r E as t.

of l *K' Barcelona Conference th e Chinese delegation w as a lw ays insp ired by the spia ion which reigned a t th a t Conference, an d i t a lw ays m a in ta in e d an extrem ely res

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attitude in th e discussion of th e C onven tions on N av igab le W a te rw ay s a n d on F reed o m of T ran s it, -fjiis was because o u r de lega tion w as w ell aw are th a t th e conven tion ab o u t to b e d raw n u p b y the delegates of th e P ow ers p re sen t a t th a t Conference w ould replace th e co n ven tion p rov ided for in Article 338 of th e T re a ty of Versailles (which lays dow n th a t , u n d e r th e P eace T re a ty , th e convention shall im m ed ia te ly be app lied to in te rn a tio n a l rivers), an d th a t b y degrees, as c ircu m ­stances p e rm itted i t u n d e r A rtic le 23 of th e C ovenant, w ould be ex ten d ed to inc lude rivers in other parts of th e world.

The Chinese delegation the re fo re desired to avo id a s fa r as possible th e in tro d u c tio n in to these extrem ely genera l conven tions of a n y am en d m en ts designed to cover p a r t ic u la r cases r e ­sulting on th e one h a n d from th e w ide e x te n t of Chinese territo ry7, from her im m em oria l t r a d i ­tions and from local econom ic conditions, and , on th e o th e r h an d , from th e ex istence of an e x t r a ­territorial s ta tu s in t r e a ty p o rts an d foreign concessions a n d from th e p a r t ta k e n b y foreigners in the fixing of C ustom s duties.

Our delegation the re fo re m erely drew th e a t te n tio n of th e Conference to th e ex is tence of many former tre a t ie s w ith ce rta in pow ers w hich m ay give rise to serious difficulties in th e fu tu re when it is sough t to harm o n ise th e m w ith th e new conventions.

Our delegation felt confident th a t these Pow ers, a c tu a te d b y a sp irit of justice , w ould g ive us all the assistance req u ired to enab le us to m ak e such changes in these form er tre a t ie s as w ould be necessitated b y th e com ing in to force of th e new conventions.

At th e m o m en t w hen th e te x ts of th e C onventions w ere ab o u t to be p u t in to th e ir final fo rm , the Chinese delegation , being p a r t ic u la r ly desirous th a t no difficulty shou ld arise in th e fu tu re in the applica tion of th e conven tions, p o in te d ou t to th e Conference th a t th e regim e se t up u n d e r the new conven tions w as to som e e x te n t equ iva len t to th e opening to foreign tra d e of m eans of communication in C hina w hich h a d h i th e r to been exclusively reserved for Chinese trad e , a n d that the princip les of e q u a lity , l ib e r ty a n d rec ip roc ity were th u s going to b e en tire ly d is regarded through th e a p p lica tio n of th e new te x t con jo in tly w ith th e provisions of th e fo rm er trea tie s . In fact, these te x ts a re incom patib le , a n d it is for th a t reason th a t th e Chinese delegation , wTien Article 10 of th e T ra n s it C onven tion dealing w ith th e m ain ten an ce of ex isting conven tions w as being discussed, th o u g h t it necessary to m ak e a request fo r a special in te rp re ta t io n in respec t of China, nam ely : t h a t in no case cou ld th e special r ig h ts en joyed b y ce rta in Pow ers in t r e a ty p o r ts be extended a n d th a t th e benefits d erived from such r ig h ts cou ld no t be ex ten d ed to o th e r Pow ers entering in to re la tio n s w ith C hina as a re su lt of th e new conventions.

Finally, th e Chinese d e lega tion ta b le d in th e form of a reserva tion a d ec la ra tio n concern ing Articles 8, 9 a n d 20 of th e S ta tu te on N av igab le W aterw ays. F o r, so long as these tre a tie s h av e n o t been revised in ag reem en t w ith th e T re a ty Pow ers, i t will be abso lu te ly im possib le for China, however conc ilia to ry h e r sp ir it , to respec t, w hen app ly ing th e new conven tions, th e p rinc ip les of freedom an d e q u a li ty defined in th e artic les of th e tw o S ta tu te s .

The in te rp re ta t io n given to A rticle 10 in th e T ra n s it C onvention w as a p p ro v e d b y th e C om ­mittee of J u r is ts in i ts le t te r of A pril 20 th , 1921. T he dec la ra tion w ith re g a rd to A rtic les 8, 9 and 20 was accep ted b y th e fu ll C o m m ittee a n d p u t on record in h is final rep o rt b y th e R a p p o r te u r on the W ate rw ay s C onvention .

My in ten tio n in b rin g in g th ese fa c ts to y o u r no tice is, on th e one h a n d , to rem in d th e Con­ference of th e a t t i tu d e of th e Chinese de lega tion a t B arcelona and , on th e o th e r h a n d , to req u es t you to be so good as to g ive y o u r im p a r t ia l considera tion to th e a rg u m en ts su b m itte d in th e m em o­randum which I h a v e ju s t h a d th e h o n o u r to lay before you.

The P r e s i d e n t : [Translation .] G entlem en, th e ve ry in te resting re p o r t w hich th e Chinese delegation has su b m it te d is o u ts id e th e scope of th e agenda of th e Conference. I do n o t th in k , therefore, th a t we can ta k e a n y decision w ith reg a rd to it. As, how ever, th is is a q u es tio n w hich is very closely co n n ec ted w ith ou r w ork , I th in k th a t we m igh t go a certa in w ay to m ee t th e desires which have been expressed here b y th e delegate for China.

We m ight first co m m u n ica te th e re p o rt in question to th e S ta tes which a re rep resen ted here. Secondly, if we can n o t do so d irec tly , th e Chinese delegation o r th e Chinese G o v ern m en t m ig h t communicate th is re p o r t to th e A dv iso ry a n d Technical C om m ittee. T h a t w ould b e a beg inn ing towards p reparin g p a r t of th e w ork w hich we were hoping, a few m inu tes ago, t h a t t h a t Com ­mittee would u n d e rtak e .

China w ould th u s be b eg inn ing to d o w h a t we hope all will do. I m ean th a t , w hen th e re lre questions w hich can n o t y e t b e su b m itte d for discussion to th is Conference, s tep s shou ld be taken to p repare th e su b jec t for fu tu re discussions.

If there is no ob jec tion , I w ill ta k e th a t as agreed.I call on M. H a a s to speak on th e S ecre ta ry -G enera l’s rep o rt w ith reg a rd to th e m easu res

taken in execu tion of th e decisions of th e B arcelona Conference.

M. H a a s (S ecre tary -G enera l of th e Conference) : [Translation .] In th e d o cu m en t before y°u I have given a su m m ary of th e m easures ta k e n b y th e Secre tary -G enera l of th e L eague in execution of th e decisions of th e B arce lona Conference.

This rep o rt beg ins w ith a s ta te m e n t concern ing th e ra tifica tions an d adhesions w hich hav e taken place. I t th e n gives an analysis of th e d ifferen t stages of th e w ork w hich has been d one : the Genoa Conference, an d th e c ircu la rs sen t to th e G overnm ents. A p a r t from th e w ork of ra tifi- cation or of p u t t in g in to force th e genera l decisions ta k e n b y th e B arcelona Conference, th e rep o rt

Ws the ac tion ta k e n on th e reco m m en d a tio n s m ade b y th a t Conference.I would m erely d raw th e a t te n t io n of th e Conference to th e fac t th a t th e position , a t least

ar as concerns th e ra tif ica tio n s of th e adhesions to th e G eneral C onven tion on F reedom of ransit, is rea lly m uch m ore fav o u rab le th a n would ap p ea r from th e tab le of a m ore or less legal ature which ap p e a rs in th e re p o rt. P roced u re for ra tifica tion is n a tu ra l ly r a th e r slow. T his

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procedure is in progress so fa r as a ce rta in n u m b er of S ta te s are concerned , a n d th e re is every reason to hope th a t d u rin g n e x t y ea r an d th e y e a r w hich follows we shall h a v e reg is tered a very consi­derab le n u m b er of fresh ra tifica tions, a t least in respec t of th e G eneral C onvention on Freedom of T ran s it. T he p rocedure is also con tin u in g in a n o rm al m an n e r as rega rd s th e G eneral Convention on th e Regim e of N av igab le W ate rw ay s of In te rn a tio n a l Concern. Difficulties h av e been reported in special cases. B u t n ego tia tions are proceed ing favo u rab ly , a n d no S ta te h a s y e t declared that it has decided n o t to ra tify t h a t C onvention. All th a t has h ap p en ed is th a t c e r ta in Governments have reserved th e ir final a t t i tu d e u n til th e end of th e negotia tions.

The P r e s i d e n t : [T ransla tion .] I f n o b o d y w ishes to speak , I p ropose th a t th e Conference should ta k e n o te of th e S ecre ta ry -G enera l’s repo rt.

The Conference noted the report.

3. Collaboration betw een W aterways and R ailw ays : Report by the R ailw ays C om m ittee on theR ecom m endation of the Central C om m iss ion for Rhine N avigation .

(See proceedings of the Railways Committee, published separately.)

4. Travelling F acilit ies for Groups of S tu d en ts , Boy Scouts and Girl G uides : A ssem bly R eso­lution com m u n icated to the Conference.

(See proceedings of the Railways Committee, published separately.)

5. Advisory and Technical C om m ittee .

The P r e s i d e n t : [Translation .] T he Conference w ill rem em b er th a t a t th e end of ourw ork we shall hav e to p roceed to th e renew al of th e A dviso ry a n d T echnical C om m ittee for Com­m unications a n d T ran s it. To avo id a n y difficulty as regards th e p rocedure to be followed in this m a tte r , I shall consult th e se c re ta r ia t a s to th e m easures w hich should be ta k e n for th e renewal of th is C om m ittee. W e w ill em body th e m in a v e ry sh o rt re p o r t w hich will be laid before you in due course.

F O U R T H P L E N A R Y M E E T IN G

H eld on Sa turday, December 8th, 1923, at 11 a.m .

M. E . C o n t i , P residen t.

1. Communication by the P resident w ith regard to the D ecease of M . Chargueraud.

The P r e s i d e n t : [Translation .] G entlem en, before we begin o u r discussions I must com­m unicate to you a le tte r w hich I h av e ju s t received from th e son of o u r la te colleague M. Chargueraud :

Paris , D ecem ber 6th , 1923.Sir,

My m other a n d I h av e been v e ry m u ch touch ed b y th e m ark s of sy m p a th y which you have given us on th e occasion of o u r sad loss.

I would beg you to convey our sincerest th a n k s to th e m em b ers of th e Conference, and I am, Sir, etc.

{Signed) P. C h a r g u e r a u d - H a r t m a n n .

2. Report of the Com m ittee on E lectric Q uestions on the Convention re la tin g to the Transm ission in T ransit of Electric Pow er.

(See proceedings of the Committee on Electric Questions, published separately.)

3 Discussion of the Convention relating to the T ra n sm iss io n in T ran sit of Electric Power.

(See Proceedings of the Committee on Electric Questions, published separately.)

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Advisory and Technical C om m ittee .

The P r e s i d e n t : [T ransla tion .] I w ould re m in d th e Conference th a t we shall h a v e to renew the Advisory a n d T echn ica l C om m ittee . W ith re g a rd to th is m a t te r I m u st in fo rm y o u t h a t ' I have been notified by le t te r of th e fo rm a tio n of th re e groups. T he first g roup is com posed of th e delegates of E s th o n ia , F in lan d , L a tv ia an d L ith u a n ia , th e second of th e delegates of D en m ark , Norway and Sweden, an d th e th ird of th e de lega tes of R o um an ia , th e K ingdom of th e Serbs, C r o a t s and Slovenes a n d C zechoslovakia.

In view of th e elections for th e renew al of th e A dv iso ry an d Technical C om m ittee , th e Confe­rence will have first to a p p ro v e th e fo rm atio n of th e se th re e groups. Should no one ask to speak,I shall regard th e se th re e g roups as ap p ro v ed b y th e Conference.

Lastly, as you know , I convened all th e first de legates y es te rd ay in o rder to discuss w ith th em the modifications th a t m ig h t be m ad e in o u r rules of p rocedure w ith a view to th e elections for the renewal of th e A dv iso ry a n d T echn ica l C o m m ittee .

W ithout going in d e ta il in to th e d iscussions w e had y e s te rd ay on th is m a tte r , I su b m it for your approval th e reso lu tions w hich w ere ap p ro v e d b y a ll th e delegates p resen t. T h ey are as 'follows:

“T h e special C o m m ittee com posed of th e chief delegates to th e Conference proposes to th e C onference t h a t i t a d o p t fo r th e renew al of th e A dvisory an d Technical C om m ittee th e p rov is ions of th e d ra f t R u les of P roced u re su b m itte d b y th e S ecre tary -G enera l of th e Conference, w ith th e ex cep tion of A rtic le 10.

“F u r th e rm o re , th e C o m m ittee p roposes to th e Conference to decide, in resp ec t of th e app lica tion of th e sa id ru les, th a t , so fa r as concerns th e p resen t n u m b er of sea ts in th e C om m ittee , th e ex is ting d iv ision b y c o n tin e n ts be m a in ta in ed a n d th a t th e n u m b er of m em bers of th e C om m ittee b e ra ised to e igh teen , th e new seats being given one to E urope a n d one to co n tin en ts o th e r th a n E uro p e . ”

M. P o l it is (Greece) : [Translation.] C erta in delegates are in d o u b t as to th e la s t w ords of this resolution. T o w h a t c o n tin e n t will th e e x tra -E u ro p e a n sea t be given?

The P r e s i d e n t : [Translation.] T h e sea t m a y be given to an y c o u n try ou ts ide E urope.We are proposing, as w e are a llow ed to d o b y th e S ta tu te , to raise th e n u m b er of m em b ers of th e Advisory and T echn ica l C om m ittee from 16 to 18.

With regard to th e genera l d iv ision of sea ts , i t is n o t a lte red ; th a t is to say , th e re will be five members for E u rope , fo u r for A m erica a n d one for Asia.

With reg a rd to th e tw o new seats , th e delegates were of opinion th a t one of th e m shou ld b e given to E urope a n d th a t th e o th e r should b e free for con tinen ts ou tside E urope . I p u t to th e v o te the proposals w h ich I h av e read .

The -proposais were adopted

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F I F T H P L E N A R Y SE SSIO N

H eld on Saturday, December 8th, 1923, at 3.30 p.m .

M. E . Co n t i , Presiden t.

1. Protocol of Signature of the Convention re lating to T ra n sm iss io n in T ran sit of Electric Power,(See proceedings of the Committee on Electric Questions, published separately.)

2. Report on the Convention relating to the D evelopm ent of Hydraulic Pow er affecting more thanone State.

(See proceedings of the Committee on Electric Questions, published separately.)

3. D iscussion of the Convention relating to the D evelopm ent of Hydraulic Power affectingm ore than one State.

(See proceedings of the Committee on Electric Questions, published separately.)

4. Continuation of the D iscussion on the Convention relating to the T ra n sm iss io n in Transit ofElectric Pow er.

(See proceedings of the Committee on Electric Questions, published separately.)

5. Continuation of the D iscu ssion on the Convention relating to the D evelopm ent of HydraulicPow er affecting m ore than one State.

(See proceedings of the Committee on Electric Questions, published separately.)

6. Report of the Ports C om m ittee on the Convention and Statute on the International Regimeof M aritim e P orts .

(See proceedings of the Ports Committee, published separately.)

7. Convention and Statute on the International R eg im e of M aritim e Ports.

(See proceedings of the Ports Committee, published separately.)

8 . Closing Speeches.

The P r e s i d e n t : [Translation.] G entlem en, th e Second G eneral Conference on Communica­tions and T ran s it h as concluded its labours in accordance w ith th e p ro g ram m e se t before it. Our Conference, like th a t of B arcelona, h as reaffirm ed, b y concluding four solem n agreem ents, the great practica l u t i l i ty of th e o rgan isa tion se t up b y th e L eague of N ations to fac ilita te , b y m eeting from tim e to tim e, th e w ork w hich devolves u p o n th e L eague u n d e r th e te rm s of A rtic le 23 of the Cove­n an t, nam ely : to secure a n d m a in ta in freedom of com m unica tions a n d of tra n s it .

I t is m y privilege to offer y o u m y th a n k s for th e en th u sia sm w ith w hich y o u have worked to enable th e Conference to a t ta in its objects.

I m ost g ladly acknow ledge th a t in y o u r d iscussions y o u hav e in v a riab ly given proof of that spirit of in te rn a tio n a l so lidarity w hich is th e life a n d b re a th of th e L eague of N ations. You have recognised th a t , in th e c ircum stances of o u r tim e, we can n o t ignore th e fac t th a t th e interests oj a l l nations are in te rdependen t, a n d yo u hav e once again b o rne p rac tica l w itness to th e im p o s s ib il ity

of assuring th e economic fu tu re of th e w orld save b y th e closest co llabora tion b e tw een all its forces. U nderstanding th a t any exclusive policy w ould en ta il in th e long ru n in ju ry to th e country whic adopts it, you have recognised th a t th e p rincip le of th e so lid a rity of m an k in d is n o t m erely a sub lim e

m oral dogm a b u t a sound economic principle.The fact th a t you have agreed to conclude ce rta in im p o r ta n t conven tions clearly proves t at

you have done every th ing in y ou r pow er to discover th e po in t of c o n tac t a t w hich your common in terests meet.

“U na paro la in tu t t i era ed un m odo Si che p a rea t r a essi ogni conco rd ia .”

I called to m ind these w ords of our g rea tes t poet, D a n te Alighieri, w hen in these last days I had the happiness of seeing th a t our endeavours w ould be crow ned b y so significant a result as unanim ous approval of all delegations. Y ou m a y re s t satisfied th a t , th a n k s to your spin harm ony, even th e energetic defenders of th e ind iv idua l in te re s ts of each co u n try never fa1 e m ake allowance for th e com m on in te rest of all na tio n s w hich live an d hav e th e ir being in the in national com m unity.

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Your goodwill, y o u r ab ili ty an d y our a u th o r i ty hav e rendered m y ta s k easier. I th a n k you.

Our Conference m ay be p ro u d of h av ing well fulfilled th e w ork traced ou t for it b y th e B a rc e ­lona Conference.

At th a t Conference tw o g re a t princip les were es tab lished a n d ad o p ted in reg a rd to co m m unica ­tions, nam ely : th a t of freedom of t ra n s i t a n d th a t of freedom of n av ig a tio n on navigable waterways of in te rn a t io n a l concern.

This was an im p o r ta n t first s te p to w ard s th e app lica tion of A rtic le 23 of th e C ovenan t, since until th a t tim e th e g ra n t of facilities to in te rn a tio n a l t ra n s i t w as regarded b y th e S ta te s as a p p e r ­taining to th e ir exclusive sovereign ty . T h e s ta b ili ty and co n tin u ity of th e g rea t in te rn a tio n a l channels of com m u n ica tio n accord ingly depended up o n th e goodwill of th e various G overnm ents , which could a t th e ir ow n p leasu re suspend or o b s tru c t traffic across th e ir territo ries.

The B arcelona Conference, how ever, w as o b lig ed to confine itself to th is p ro b le m , w hich was in itself of v a s t e x te n t ; i t w as forced to rem a in co n ten t w ith passing a se rie s of recom m endations with regard to th e in te rn a tio n a l regim e of ra ilw ays a n d m aritim e p o rts , a n d to req u est th e second Conference to co m ple te th e w ork w hich i t h ad so ab ly b eg u n .

The R ailw ays C onvention p assed b y o u r Conference is destined to be th e M agna C a r ta of th e international regim e of ra ilw ays. W e m a y say th a t it co n ta in s a su m m ary codification of in te rn a ­tional obligations as th e y a re a t p re sen t recognised w ith regard to tra n sp o rt, an d a t th e sam e tim e embodies a series of ag reem en ts a n d various principles in ten d ed to fac ilita te a n d im p ro v e traffic conditions across fron tiers .

I shall n o t here rep ea t w h a t th e b rillian t R a p p o r te u r of th e R ailw ays C om m ittee , M. Isabelle, has already to ld you in his rep o rt, in w hich he has given a m ost able accoun t of th e essen tia l p o in ts of the Convention.

This C onvention , w hile leav ing each c o u n try pow er to a d a p t its own ra ilw ay system to i ts own individual needs in accordance w ith i ts degree of developm ent an d its c a p a c ity for expansion , provides for an in te rn a tio n a l o rgan isa tio n to im prove th e opera tion of ra ilw ay traffic, a n d it cannot be d o u b te d th a t th e econom ic w orld will benefit g rea tly b y th e C onven tion w hen i t is generally in ap p lica tion .

The conclusion of a C onven tion on th e in te rn a tio n a l regim e of m aritim e p o rts has ap p eared at times to be co n fro n ted w ith n üm erous difficulties.

Seeing th a t m a ritim e p o rts a re th e in itia l or final po in ts touch ed b y m arit im e traffic, it w as impossible to exam ine th e d ra f t d raw n up b y th e A dvisory an d T echnical C om m ittee w ith o u t considering th e d e lica te q u es tio n of each S ta te ’s economic policy.

The Conference, how ever, th o u g h it has encoun tered num erous difficulties, h as also successfully solved th is de lica te p rob lem , a n d h as th u s com pleted th e w ork begun a t B arcelona a n d ca rr ied out the reso lu tion of th e G enoa Conference. T he Convention, w hich lays dow n th e g rea t p rinc ip le of equality of t r e a tm e n t as reg a rd s access to p o rts an d th e use of ports , will v e ry largely fac ilita te maritime co m m unica tion — th a t is, i t will p ro m o te th e re la tions be tw een n a tio n s w hose read iest natural m eans of co m m u n ica tio n is b y sea.

Again, elec trica l questions ta k e u s on to en tire ly fresh g ro u n d as regards in te rn a tio n a l obligations, b u t th e Conference has successfully concluded tw o C onventions on tw o p rob lem s w hich are of special in te re s t to th e c o m m u n ity of peoples, a n d has th u s endeavoured , in th is sphere also, to give effect to th e B arce lona R ecom m endation .

Naturally, i t w ould h av e been im p ru d e n t, in a field w hich is as ye t unexp lo red , to e lab o ra te a detailed code of p rincip les in reg a rd to th e transm ission in tra n s i t of electric pow er o r th e d ev e lo p ­ment of h y d rau lic pow er on w atercou rses fo rm ing p a r t of specific basins. Such princ ip les can on ly be laid down as a re su lt of experience.

The Conference h as therefo re done well m erely to ind ica te th e general gu id ing principles a n d to leave their ap p lica tio n to be se tt le d in special ag reem ents betw een th e S ta te s concerned.

As I have a lread y observed , th e g ra tify in g resu lts we have o b ta in ed a re la rgely d u e to th e spirit of so lid a rity a n d co-opera tion w hich a n im a te d all th e delegations, b u t I m u s t a d d th a t th e success of our efforts w as la rg e ly fac il i ta ted b y th e perfect m anner in w hich th e Conference w as prepared an d b y th e a u th o r i ty , skill a n d d ev o tio n of those who took p a r t in our work.

I feel th a t I a m expressing th e se n tim e n ts of th is assem bly w hen I ten d e r o u r w arm est th a n k s to the A dvisory a n d T echn ica l C om m ittee a n d to th e experts w ho la id th e fo u n d a tio n of our present w ork b y p rep a rin g an d su b m itt in g th e ir schemes. O ur g ra t i tu d e is also due to th e d is t in ­guished C hairm en of th e fo u r com m ittees , M. Sibille, Sir F ran c is D en t, H . E . M. F e rn an d ez Y Medina and M. H olck-Colding, w ho h av e c o n tr ib u te d b y th e ir a u th o r i ty , experience a n d ta c t to the successful conclusion of ou r labours. I also desire to te n d e r o u r th a n k s to M. v an E ysinga , who presided w ith such ab ili ty a n d devo tion over th e difficult w ork of th e D ra f tin g C om m ittee .

°F m ust I om it ou r es teem ed R a p p o rteu rs , Mr. P acau d , M. Isabelle , M. S ug im ura , M. D obke- V1C1US and M. Genissieu, fo r w hose in v a lu ab le ass is tance I offer our th a n k s . I w ould also express our gratitude to th e w hole of th e S ec re ta r ia t of th e Conference, and , in p a r tic u la r , to M. H aas, our ecretary-General, for th e zeal, inte lligence a n d sp ir it of self-sacrifice w hich th e y hav e d isp layed ,

which h a v e v e ry largely c o n tr ib u te d to th e success of o u r w ork.

. That is n o t all. I w ould fu r th e r express on y o u r behalf th e sa tis fac tio n we experience in at th is Conference, side b y side w ith G overnm en t delegates, m em bers of o rgan isa tions

>ch specially rep resen t th e in te re s ts of p roducers, bodies such as th e In te rn a t io n a l C h am b er of Mnnierce, th e In te rn a tio n a l U n ion of R a ilw ay A d m in istra tions, an d th e C en tra l Office for In te r- a lona-l T ran sp o rt b y R ail — all of w hich h av e ren d ered such in v a lu ab le assistance.

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In beginning m y speech I expressed th e p leasu re w hich I felt a t th e fac t th a t o u r Conventions h ad been approved unan im ously , or a lm ost u nan im ously , an d I am convinced th a t th e States acceding to our C onventions will ra tify th e m a t as ea r ly a d a te as possible a n d th u s perm it of th e ir enforcem ent in th e n e a r fu tu re . I am confident, how ever, th a t we w ho h av e borne the b ru n t of th e fight will soon be jo ined b y o th e r coun tries. S ta te s w hich w ere n o t represented at th e Conference will consider our w ork ; th e y will app ra ise i ts value, a n d I v e n tu re to hope th a t they will th in k it well to adhere to our A greem ents.

In th a t hope, G entlem en, I h a il th e successful conclusion of our labours.

Sir H u b e r t L l e w e l l y n S m it h (British E m pire ) : Mr. P residen t, I hav e been g rea tly hon­oured b y being asked b y a n u m b e r of m y colleagues to be th e ex ponen t of th e views, not only of th e B ritish de lega tion b u t of all th e de lega tions in th is hall, in offering to you , our President, our unan im ous an d m o s t cordial th a n k s for th e em in en t services which y o u hav e rendered to this Conference a n d to th e L eague of N a tio n s b y b ring ing ou r labours to such a successful close. Under y ou r very able gu idance , Sir, we h av e a t la s t reach ed th e e n d of o u r in te rn a tio n a l voyage together and we h av e a rr iv ed safe in p o rt. O ur w arm es t g ra t i tu d e is due, first of all, to o u r cap ta in , Signor Conti, who, th ro u g h o u t th e Conference, h as g u ided o u r proceed ings in s tr ic t co n fo rm ity with the principles of A rtic le 2 of th e P o r ts S ta tu te a s reg a rd s th e perfec t e q u a li ty of t re a tm e n t he has accorded to all delegations, th s i r p roposa ls a n d even th e ir speeches, w hile reserv ing and exercising w ith g rea t skill an d w isdom h is pow ers u n d e r A rtic le 3 for th e good co n d u c t of th e business of the Conference.

N ex t we th a n k ou r p ilo ts, th e C hairm en of o u r C om m ittees, w ho h av e s teered the ir vessels th rough difficult channels w ith o u t ever ru n n in g on th e rocks. W h ere all h a v e equa lly earned our cordial th a n k s I n am e no nam es. I do n o t even m ak e use of th e r ig h t a llow ed m e u n d e r the Statute to m ake an excep tion in fav o u r of m y ow n na tio n a ls .

T hen we th a n k th e a d m in is tra t iv e services w hich, th o u g h excluded from th e Convention, have been v ita lly necessary for th e success of our w ork ; a n d th e S ecre ta ria t, from the highest to th e lowest m em bers, on w hom such a h e a v y b u rd e n h a s fa llen a n d who h a v e done so very much to ligh ten a n d fac ilita te o u r labours , n o t fo rg e ttin g th e d e b t of g ra t i tu d e we owe to th e interpreters, and I w ould a sk M. P a ro d i n o t to o m it th a t sen tence in h is in te rp re ta tio n .

The resu lt is th a t we a rriv e a t th e e n d of ou r jo u rn ey , a lm o st u p to tim e —- a lm ost a t the mo­m en t p rophesied b y som e of us a week o r m ore b a c k — a lm ost, Mr. P re s id en t, b u t no t quite, and “the reb y hangs a ta le ” . I th in k m yself ju stified a t th e p resen t s tage in revealing to th e Conference a l ittle episode of its secret h is to ry .

A week o r m ore ago I w as unw ise enough to m ak e a b e t w ith m y friend S ignor Bignam i that we should sign th e C onvention to -day . F ro m th a t m o m e n t th e re h a s been a new s tir of interest in the I ta lia n delegation in a n u m b e r of questions of pub lic im p o rtan ce . E v e ry o n e m ust have noticed it, b u t few can hav e know n th e reason w h y A rtic le 18 a n d th e coasting trad e suddenly becam e for them m a tte rs of v ital in te rest. F o r a m o m en t I was m yself deceived, a n d I wondered w hether in G eneva I shou ld be able to find a M arm ite la rge enough to enab le m e to resist the threat­ening Escalade. B u t, lad ies a n d gen tlem en , it w as n o th in g b u t th e desire of S ignor Bignami to win one Swiss franc, a n d he has w on it, for I u n d e rs ta n d th a t we shall n o t sign u n til to-morrow m orning.

I do no t g rudge th e franc, on one cond ition : t h a t S ignor B ignam i will n o t use the powers we have allowed h im for th e con tro l of em ig ra tion so as in a n y w ay to h in d e r th e s tream of e m ig ra t io n

which is abou t to begin from G eneva of w eary de leg a tio n s an x io u s to b e tran sp o rted , without regard to the flag, n a tio n a lity or ch a ra c te r of th e m ean s of tra n s p o r t , safely an d quickly to their homes. For, sir, enjoyable as has been th is Conference, we are a ll anx io u s to ge t aw ay. P le asan t

an d invigorating as is th e a tm o sp h ere of th e L eague of N ations, th e a tm o sp h e re of our C o m m it te e

room s has been som etim es a l ittle too th ick . A nd w e desire to read som eth ing else th an proces- verbaux and to h ear som ething else th a n speeches o n sovereign righ ts .

We leave G eneva in a very h a p p y fram e of m ind . H ow p lea san t it is to find th a t with all

our initial differences we a ll m e a n t th e sam e th in g — th a t we a re all r ig h t a f te r all. I t is no new experience for th e B ritish delegation to find itself r ig h t. O ur F ren ch friends are s o m e t i m e s right,

several others are occasionally r igh t, b u t on th is occasion we are a ll r ig h t ; even M. Suginiura is right, and M. M ontarroyos will be r ig h t soon. So we all go hom e w ishing to all, and especia y. Sir, to you and M adam e Conti, a m erry C hris tm as a n d a h a p p y N ew Y ear.

M. H e r o l d (Switzerland): [Translation .] I sha ll n o t rep ea t o u r th a n k s to th e P r e s id e n t and to the Secretariat, since th e delegations agreed th a t th is m o st ag reeable ta s k should be entiu^ ted to one only of our num ber. Y ou will agree w ith m e th a t our th a n k s cou ld no t have ee presented in a m ore w itty an d in a m ore tru ly B rit ish m a n n e r th a n h a s been done by our dis m guished colleague Sir H u b e rt Llew ellyn Sm ith . As a Swiss c itizen a n d as a Swiss delegate, 0 behalf of our fair c ity of Geneva and on beha lf of th e F e d e ra l G overn m en t, I beg to t h a n k oui co eagues for having come to G eneva in sp ite of th e u n fav o u rab le w ea th e r w hich they a

, * hope they will have a p lea san t m em o ry of th e c i ty w hich received them and w 1 a e honour of being th e seat of th e Second T ra n s it Conference.

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M. H a a s (S ecre tary -G enera l of th e Conference) re a d th e follow ing le t te r d a te d D ecem ber 8th, I 923> received fro m th e re p re se n ta tiv e of th e U n ite d S ta te s of A m erica.

“In th e c row ded closing ho u rs of th e C onference I ta k e th is m ean s to m ake m y acknow ­ledgments for th e co u rte s ie s ex ten d ed to m e as a re p re se n ta tiv e of m y G o v e rn m en t d es ig n a ted to follow th e p roceed ings of th e Conference.

“I wish to em phasise how m u ch h av e been a p p re c ia te d th e p riv ileges acco rd ed to m e in c o n n e c t io n w ith m y assignm en t. E v e ry th in g possible has been done b y th e officials of th e C onference t h a t w as k in d a n d help fu l in th is connec tion .

“ In conclusion, I assu re you i t h as been a p leasure to s it in an A ssem bly p re s id ed over by your d istinguished P re s id e n t a n d in w hich th e re were so m a n y e m in e n t m en from d ifferen t countries.

“ (S ig n e d ) Lew is W . H a s k e l l .”

Mr. S an d em an A l l e n ( In te rn a tio n a l C h am b er of Commerce) : I h a d in te n d e d to ad d resyou in b ad F re n c h so as to g e t as n ea r to ev e ry b o d y as possible, b u t as th e tim e is sh o rt i t is neces ­sary to com press w h a t one h a s to say in to a few w ords.

I th a n k you fo r th e o p p o r tu n ity of speak ing th is evening on beha lf of th e In te rn a t io n a l Chamber of Com m erce. O u r P res id en t, Mr. W illis B oo th , is u n fo r tu n a te ly u n ab le to be here , an d also Sir A llan A nderson . I h a d hoped t h a t Mr. R ooker, w ho has so a b ly a c te d for us in th e Committees, w ould h av e spoken , b u t h e desires me, as a m em ber of his Council, to sp eak on b eh a lf of the Cham ber, a n d to ex p ress to you, Mr. P re s id e n t, a n d to you, g en tlem en here, our h ig h a p p re ­ciation of y o u r k indness a n d th o u g h t in in v itin g u s to a t te n d in a c o n su lta tiv e c a p a c ity a t th is meeting. I th in k I sh o u ld a d d th a t , of course, I am speaking now as n o t in a n y w ay co n n e c te d with the B ritish delegation . T o begin w ith , S ir H u b e r t h a s covered th e g ro u n d so fu lly a n d so felicitously th a t it m ak es one v e ry n e rvous a b o u t say ing an y th in g a f te r w h a t he h a s said , b u t I speak on beha lf of th e business m en n o t only of E n g lan d b u t of th e w orld. I th in k I w ou ld like on their behalf to say how th is Conference h as been fav o u red in h av in g yourself, such a p ro m in e n t business m an, as P re s id e n t o f th e Conference. I also feel th a t we are a ll p leased to th in k th a t y o u are a c itizen of th a t a n c ie n t b u t ever-young n a t io n from which we h av e le a rn t so m u ch in t im es past in th e m a t te r of com m erce a n d to w h ich o u r c iv ilisation owes so m uch . W e do n o t fo rge t that, even in la te r days, i t w as from th e m e rc h a n ts of L o m b ard y th a t we le a rn t to tra d e w ith m a n y other coun tries .

I th in k th a t , as w e see th is Conference in b e t te r perspective, you will feel even m ore satisfied than you are to -n ig h t a t h a v in g h a d th e priv ilege of presid ing over a Conference which, as fa r as international com m erce is concerned , I a m perfec tly satisfied will prove to be a n epoch-m aking one. All I will a d d is th is : th a t , w h e th e r i t is th e R a ilw ay s o r th e P o r ts C onvention w hich we hav e s tu d ied more closely, we feel t h a t g re a t p rogress h a s b e e n m ade , a n d to us, an d I am su re to everyone here , much in s truc tion h as com e o u t as to th e v i ta l im p o rtan ce of avoid ing those d isc rim in a tio n s , particularly th a t one w ith re g a rd to th e ow nersh ip of vessels, w hich only resu lt in th row ing g re a te r burdens on com m erce and , in th e long run , on th e n a tio n s w hich inflict those inequalities . W e feel th a t th is is a g re a t s te p fo rw ard in ev e ry w a y . T he In te rn a tio n a l C ham ber of C om m erce is grateful to h av e h a d an o p p o r tu n i ty of ta k in g p a r t in i t in th e w ay we have, an d we can assu re y o u that if a t a n y tim e, a n d a t all tim es, we can be o f assis tance , we are only too re a d y to give i t , in th e interests of th a t ob jec t w hich we in ou r v a r io u s cap ac itie s seek to a t ta in , an d w hich everyone who is a good citizen of his ow n c o u n try a n d ta k e s a n in te re s t in th e w elfare of h u m a n ity m u s t of necessity feel h im self b o u n d to forw ard .

9 Election for the R enew al of the Advisory and T echn ica l Com m ittee.

The P r e s i d e n t : [ T ra n sla tio n .] T h e n e x t item on th e ag enda is a b a llo t for th e renew al ofthe Advisory a n d T echn ica l C om m ittee .

We have th re e m e m b e rs to e lect from E u ro p e , chosen from am ong Belgium , S pain , th e N e th e r ­lands, Poland a n d S w itzerland .

For A m erica we h a v e to choose tw o c a n d id a te s am ong Brazil, Chile, C uba a n d U ru g u ay .

M. B ignam i and M . S ib ille were appointed tellers.

The P r e s i d e n t : [Translation.] W e will now ta k e a ballo t.

A vote was taken by roll-call.

The P r e s i d e n t : [Translation.] T h e follow ing is th e resu lt of th e ballo t :

N u m b e r v o tin g : 23

The following vo tes w ere cast :

P o la n d . .B elg ium .S p a in . .

Ihe next w ere:N e th e r lan d s S w itzerland

23 vo tes 19 »17 »

14 »11 »

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I n the case of Europe, Poland, B e lg ium and S p a in are therefore eligible.W ith regard to Am erica, the State of Cuba, hav ing obtained 22 votes, is also eligible.In th e case of th e second A m erican S ta te , Chile an d B razil hav ing each o b ta in ed 13 votes, a

ba llo t should be tak en betw een them .W e will therefore h av e a new ballo t.

A vote by roll-call was taken.

T he P r e s i d e n t : [ T ransla tion .] T he following is th e re su lt of th e b a llo t:

N u m b er vo tin g : 29

C h i l e . ................................................ 16 vo tesB r a z i l ................................................ 12 »

I therefore declare Chile eligible

W e will now co n tin u e w ith th e final election. I p ropose th a t we only h a v e one list.

M. H aas (Secre tary -G enera l of th e Conference) : [Translation.] I t is und ers to o d that, aswas a lread y decided, we shall leave aside th e tw o new seats.

There are therefo re 12 sea ts to fill: 1 A sia tic S ta te , 4 A m erican S ta te s a n d 7 E u ro p ean States, to be chosen from am ong those w ho h av e been found eligible. Y ou shou ld v o te on th e same voting paper for all of them .

T he elections for th e tw o new sea ts will com e la te r .

T he P r e s i d e n t : [Translation.] T he b a llo t will now begin.

A vote was taken by roll-call according to the procedure stated by the Secretary-General.

The P r e s i d e n t : [Translation.] T h e follow ing votes were ca s t:

E u ropean S ta tes :

A m erican S ta te s :

A siatic S ta te :

N u m b er vo tin g : 29

N o r w a y ...................................... 38 vo tesL i t h u a n i a ................................. 34 »R o u m a n i a ................................. 27 »P o la n d ........................................... 23 »B e l g i u m ...................................... 20 »S p a i n .......................................... 19 »A u s t r ia .......................................... 16 »

C o lom bia ...................................... 24 vo tesV e n e z u e l a ................................. 24 »C u b a ............................................... 23 »C h ile ............................................... 22 »

C h i n a .......................................... 26 vo tes

All th e s e S ta tes a re there fo re e lected m em bers of th e A dviso ry a n d T echn ica l Committee. I call on th e A ssem bly to ta k e a b a llo t on th e tw o new sea ts to be filled.I t is understood th a t th e vo ting p ap ers will co n ta in nam es of one E u ro p e a n S ta te and of one

ex tra -E u ro p ean S ta te .The ballo t will now be ta k e n .

A vote by roll-call was taken.

The P r e s i d e n t : [Translation.] G entlem en, th e resu lt of th e b a llo t is as follows:

N u m b er v o tin g : 30

The following votes were c a s t :

S a l v a d o r ...................................... 20G r e e c e .......................................... 18

These S ta tes are therefore declared m em b ers of th e A dv iso ry a n d T echn ica l C o m m it te e .

I declare the Second G eneral Conference on C om m unica tions a n d T ra n s it a t an end.

L IS T O F A N N E X E S

Page

1. Report of th e C om m ittee on th e V erification of C r e d e n t i a l s ............................... 38

2. Report of th e C o m m ittee on th e R u les of P r o c e d u r e ...........................................................................40

3. Report on th e W o rk of th e A dviso ry a n d Technical C om m ittee for C om m unicationsand T ra n s it since th e B arce lona C onference ........................................................ 41

4. Report p re se n te d b y th e S ec re ta ry -G en era l of th e League of N a tio n s on th e M easuresta k e n in E x e c u tio n of th e D ecisions of th e B arcelona Conference ................ 43

5. M em orandum b y th e C hinese G o v e rn m en t regard ing th e E xped ien cy a n d N ecessity ofrevising c e r ta in Special T r e a t i e s .......................................................................... 48

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A N N E X 1

R E P O R T O F T H E C O M M IT T E E ON T H E V E R IF IC A T IO N O F C R E D E N T IA L S

(R a p p o r te u r : M. S i b i l l e )

G entlem en,

Before it en ded i ts w ork, th e F ir s t G eneral C onference on C om m unica tions a n d T ransit, which w as held a t B arcelona from M arch io th to A pril 20 th , 1921, recom m ended th a t a second Conference should m eet a t G eneva in due course to d raw u p a n d conclude a C onven tion on R ailw ays and to s tu d y th e cond itions of th e cession of e lec trica l energy b y ce rta in S ta te s to o th e r States.

In con fo rm ity w ith th is reco m m en d a tio n th e Council of th e L eague of N a tio n s decided that th e Second G eneral C onference on C om m unica tions a n d T ra n s it shou ld m eet a t G eneva on Novem­ber 15th, 1923, an d th a t n o t on ly th e S ta te s M em bers of th e L eague b u t all recognised States should b e asked to send rep re sen ta tiv es .

This Council R eso lu tion w as a p p ro v ed on S ep tem b er 22nd la s t b y th e A ssem bly of th e League. A ccordingly th e S ec re ta ria t sen t in v ita tio n s to all recognised S ta tes . In accordance w ith Article 2 of th e R u les for th e O rgan isa tio n of G enera l C onferences a n d of th e A dv iso ry an d Technical C om m ittee, th e S ta te s w hich are n o t M em bers of th e L eague are, as f a r as th e Conference is con­cerned, t r e a te d ex ac tly on th e sam e foo ting as S ta te s M em bers of th e League.

As you know , th e ag en d a of th e C onference includes: (1) a rep o rt on th e w ork of th e Advisory a n d Technical C om m ittee , since th e B arce lona C onference ; (2) a re p o r t on th e m easures taken in execution of th e decisions of t h a t Conference ; (3) a d ra f t C onven tion a n d S ta tu te on the Inter­na tio n a l R egim e of R ailw ay s; (4) a d ra f t C onven tion a n d S ta tu te on th e In te rn a tio n a l Regime of M aritim e P o r ts ; (5) a d ra f t C onven tion a n d S ta tu te re la tin g to th e T ransm ission in T ransit of Elec­tr ic Pow er; (6) a d ra f t C onven tion a n d S ta tu te re la tin g to th e D evelopm en t of H ydrau lic Power on W atercourses form ing P a r t of a B as in s i tu a te d in th e T e rr i to ry of Several S ta te s ; (7) renewal of th e A dvisory a n d T echn ical C om m ittee .

A rticle 11 of th e R u les for th e O rgan isa tio n of G enera l Conferences au th o rises you to include in y o u r ag enda new questions, b u t on tw o co n d itio n s : first, before d iscussion, th e exceptional cir­cum stances w hich m ak e th e inclusion of th e se ques tio n s desirab le o r necessary m ust be stated; second, th e Conference m u st, b y a tw o -th ird s m a jo r ity , decide th a t th e y a re of u rg en t importance.

T he C om m ittee w hich you in s tru c te d to v e rify c red en tia ls m e t on N o vem ber 16th. It found t h a t th e delegations w hich h a d responded to th e L eag u e ’s appeal h ad v a ry in g powers. Certain delegates — p len ip o ten tia rie s — w ere em pow ered to conclude a n d sign C onventions; others w ere m erely em pow ered to ta k e p a r t in p rep a rin g d ra f ts w hich m ig h t ev en tu a lly become Conven­tions to be concluded an d signed b y p len ip o ten tia r ie s ap p o in te d for th is purpose .

T he C om m ittee is of op in ion th a t pow ers to conclude a n d sign th e C onventions th a t we are draw ing up should be verified in th e sam e conditions, or p re fe rab ly b y th e sam e persons, since it is undesirable th a t d ifferent ru les shou ld be app lied acco rd ing as th e d a te s of signature vary. As th e C onventions th a t we a re p rep a rin g will be signed a t th e end of o u r Conference by certain delegates only, and as th e S ec re ta ria t, a f te r th e C onference h as te rm in a te d , will necessarily have to verify powers to conclude a n d sign, y o u r C om m ittee proposes th a t y o u shou ld decide that al such powers to conclude a n d sign, inc lud ing even those w hich a re now su b m itte d , should be verine b y th e Secre taria t as recognised in good a n d due form.

The rep resen ta tives of th e following co u n trie s s ta te th a t th e y are au th o rised to conclude

and sign the C onventions or A greem en ts w hich m a y resu lt from th e C onference : Austria, Bntis Em pire, D enm ark, F ree C ity of D an tz ig , E s th o n ia , G reece, H u n g a ry , I ta ly , Jap an , Latvia, N etherlands, P o land , R oum an ia , S alvador, K in g d o m of th e Serbs, C roa ts a n d Slovenes and

The delegates of th e following S ta te s a re au th o rise d to rep resen t th e ir respective Govern m ents, w ithou t, however, being em pow ered to conclude an d sign C onven tions :

by te legram from th e M inister of F ore ign Affairs,by le tte r from th e M inister of F ore ign Affairs, jby le tte r from th e B raz ilian re p re se n ta tiv e on th e Council of th e League

N ations,b y te legram from th e B u lg a rian L ega tion a t Berne, b y le tte r from th e C an ad ian H igh C om m issioner in London, b y full pow ers conferred b y th e M inister of F ore ign Affairs, b y te legram from th e M inister of F ore ign Affairs, b y le tte r from th e Chinese rep re se n ta tiv e on th e Council, b y telegram from th e M inister of F ore ign Affairs, by telegram from th e M inister of F ore ign Affairs,

A lbania : Belgium :Brazil :

Bulgaria: Canada: Czechoslovakia • Chile:China : Colombia : C uba:

— 39 -

Finland: b y full pow ers conferred b y th e Chief of S ta te ,F ra n c e : b y P re s id e n tia l D ecree,Germany : b y le t te r from th e M in ister of F o re ig n A ffairs a n d th e G erm an C onsul a t G eneva,Irish Free S ta te : b y te leg ram from th e M inister of E x te rn a l Affairs.L ith u a n ia : b y full pow ers conferred b y th e P re s id en t of th e Council,Norway: b y te leg ram from th e M inister of F ore ign Affairs,Portugal : b y te leg ram from th e M inister of F ore ign Affairs,The Governing Com m ission of th e S a a r B asin T e r r i to ry : b y le t te r from th e P re s id en t of th e

G overning Com m ission (the S aar re p re se n ta tiv e s a re p re sen t in an adv iso ry capacity ).Spain : b y R o y a l Decree,Sweden : b y le t te r from th e M inister of F o re ig n Affairs,Switzerland : b y le t te r from th e F ed e ra l Council,Turkey : b y le t te r from th e M inister of P u b lic W orks,Uruguay: b y te leg ram from th e M inister of F ore ign Affairs,Venezuela : b y te leg ram from th e M in is try o f F ore ign Affairs.

In con fo rm ity w ith a n ag reem en t b e tw een P o la n d a n d D anzig , th e Polish delegation re p re ­sents th e P olish G o v e rn m en t as ac tin g b o th for P o la n d a n d fo r th e te r r i to ry of th e F re e C ity ofDanzig.

The G o v e rn m en t of th e U n ite d S ta te s of A m erica au th o rised Mr. Lewis W . H askell, U n ite d States Consul a t G eneva, to follow th e d iscussions of th e Conference.

F u rtherm ore , th e C en tra l Office of In te rn a t io n a l R ailw ay T ran sp o rt , th e In te rn a tio n a l U nion of R ailw ay A d m in is tra tio n s , th e A dv iso ry a n d T echn ica l C om m ittee for C om m unications a n d Transit, th e In te rn a t io n a l C h am b er of C om m erce a n d th e In te rn a tio n a l D an u b e , O der, E lb e an d Rhine Com m issions sen t re p re se n ta tiv e s to th e Conference.

We have, th en , th e h o n o u r to su b m it to y o u th e following reso lu tion :The rep re se n ta tiv e s of th e follow ing 39 S ta te s are a d m itte d to ta k e p a r t in th e w ork of

the Conference :

Albania E s th o n ia P o rtu g a lAustria F in la n d R o u m an iaBelgium F ran ce S alvadorBrazil G e rm an y K ingdom of th e Serbs, C roa tsBritish E m p ire Greece a n d SlovenesBulgaria H u n g a ry SiamCanada Ir ish F ree S ta te S painChile I ta ly Sw edenChina J a p a n S w itzerlandColombia L a tv ia T u rk e yCuba L ith u a n ia U ru g u a yCzechoslovakia N e th e r lan d s V enezuelaDenmark N o rw ayFree City of D anzig P o lan d

The following is a d m it te d to ta k e p a r t in th e w ork of th e C onference in a n ad v iso ry c a p a c ity : The rep re sen ta tiv e of th e G overn ing C om m ission of th e S a a r B asin T errito ry .A dm itted to follow th e d iscussions of th e C onference :The rep resen ta tiv e of th e U n ited S ta te s .Admitted on special in v i ta t io n to ta k e p a r t in th e Conference, in an ad v iso ry c a p a c ity :The rep re sen ta tiv e s of:The A dvisory a n d T echn ica l C om m ittee fo r C om m un ica tio n s a n d T ra n s i t ;The C entral Office of In te rn a t io n a l R a ilw ay T ra n sp o r t ;The In te rn a tio n a l U n io n o f R a ilw a y A d m in is tra tio n s ;The In te rn a tio n a l C h am b er o f C om m erce ;The In te rn a tio n a l D a n u b e C om m ission ;The In te rn a tio n a l O der Com m ission ;The Central C om m ission for R h in e N a v ig a tio n ;The P erm an en t T ech n ica l H y d ra u lic S y stem C om m ission of th e D an u b e .

— 40 —

A N N E X 2

R E P O R T OF T H E COMMITTEE ON T H E R U L E S OF PR O C E D U R E

Rapporteur: M. W iniarsk i.

The organisation and m ethod of working of the General Conferences on Communications and Transit are regulated b y two docum ents: (i) Rules for the Organisation of General Conferenceson Communications and Transit and of the A dvisory and Technical Committee, adopted by the Barcelona Conference on April 6th, 1921, and (2) Rules of Procedure for General Conferences, ad o p ted by the Barcelona Conference on April 8th, 1921.

These two bodies of rules contain a series of provisions very different in origin and in value.Some of these provisions m erely reproduce, either tex tu a lly or in paraphrased form, various

Resolutions of the A ssem bly or the Council of the League of Nations, the m ost important of these latter Resolutions being the tw o adopted b y the First A ssem bly on Decem ber 8th and 9th, 1920. These provisions cannot be modified b y a General Conference on Com m unications and Transit, as th ey constitute international undertakings which were entered into, and which can only be altered, in accordance with a juridical procedure specially laid down.

Other provisions, although not based on Assem bly or Council R esolutions, form part of the Rules of Organisation, and m ay only be modified in the m anner prescribed in Articles 11 and 16 of these Rules. A tw o-thirds m ajority of the Conference is required before any question regarding the modification of the Rules for the Organisation of Conferences can be placed on the agenda and before a modification inserted on the agenda can be adopted.

Finally, a third class of provisions are those contained in the Conference’s own Rules of Procedure, which, provided th ey are not based on R esolutions of the A ssem bly or the Council or on the Rules of Organisation, m ay be modified, supplem ented or deleted b y an ordinary majority vote of the Conference.

No request has been m ade for any revision of the R ules of Organisation. N o question regard­ing revision appears on the agenda of the Conference and no proposals are likely to be submitted which the Conference would consider as of great urgency.

However, as regards the Rules of Procedure referred to above, Article 14 of the Rules of Organi­sation states explicitly that “the Conference will frame its own rules of procedure” .

The Second General Conference on Com m unications and Transit is therefore compelled to take a decision in regard to its Rules of Procedure, even though it merely desired to adopt unchanged

the Rules for the First General Conference.The Committee appointed to subm it proposals on th is subject to the Conference was of opinion

that it was unnecessary to m ake any material change in the tex ts adopted at Barcelona. They have been tested, and experience has shown that, speaking generally, they are satisfactory. The Committee, however, considered that certain modifications on points of detail were desirable, if not, indeed, essential. In putting these modifications forward, the Com m ittee merely intended to suggest alterations indicated b y actual experience.

I t accordingly proposes that tw o m odifications should be m ade in Article 2. The first 01 these, following the exam ple set in the Rules of Procedure of the Assem bly, is intended to promote the satisfactory working of the Com m ittees of the General Conference b y conferring on the repre­sentative of each Member the power to appoint deputy representatives and experts, even when the Conference is actually in session and even although their nam es have not been.subm itted before­hand by their respective G overnm ents to the Secretariat of the League of Nations. The object of the second amendment is to enlarge the scope of the article so as to enable all technical organi­sations in regular relations w ith the A dvisory and Technical C om m ittee to be invited to take par in the Conference in an advisory capacity, the present wording not being comprehensive enoug to include all these bodies.

The C ommittee also proposed to delete the word “verbatim ” in Article 5 occurring be ore the word reports”. This modification would allow of considerable sum s being saved, while no m any way impairing the practical value of these reports. Their value might even be increase , as the experience of the Advisory and Technical C om m ittee and the recent experience of the ei— Jiuvioui y tuiu îcumiLiu vuiiumiiee auu me ic icm — ,Conference have shown that a summary of the discussions, provided it reproduces ac9ur,a, i the ideas of the speakers, is much more useful than bulky verbatim reports. Nothing m provisions, of course, prevents verbatim reports of speeches of special importance being §1V

I h p n h i f W zvf . i ■ i • . • , , • » . • i _ _ K r i n Pv v i . t v c i 1 1 1 1 1 i c p u i 1 5 u i a p c c u i i c a u i a p c t i a i - > intO

he object of th e modification which it is proposed to m ake in Article 10 is to bring 1 the amended Assem bly Rules of Procedure (Article 16, Part 5) in accor

1 T, e res°hition adopted on this subject by the Barcelona Conference. . ngein the E n g l^ h t ^ t ^ IIj Para8raph 3, is purely verbal, and does not call for any c

--D,.yju ° i ° ’ ^ e Committee proposes the deletion of the portion of Article 13 relating public ballot , which has never been exercised.

— 4 i —

II.

To sum up , th e C o m m ittee proposes th a t th e R ules of P rocedure of th e F irs t G enera l C onfe­rence should b e a d o p ted , w ith th e following m odifications :

Article 2. — A d d th e following to p a ra g ra p h i :

"The nam es of d e p u ty rep re sen ta tiv e s a n d of ex p erts m ay also be co m m u n ica ted d u ringthe Conference to th e S e c re ta r ia t of th e L eague of N a tio n s b y th e respective rep re se n ta tiv e s a t th eConference.”

Paragraph 5 should be replaced by the following:

“The re p re sen ta tiv e s of te ch n ica l o rgan isa tio n s m a in ta in in g regu la r re la tio n s w ith th e A dvisory and T echnical C om m ittee fo r C om m unica tions an d T ra n s it w ho are in v ite d to b e p re sen t a t th e Conference in an a d v iso ry ca p a c ity m a y be h ea rd b y th e Conference a t th e ir req u es t a n d on condition th a t th e C onference so decides b y a m a jo r i ty .”

Article 5. — D ele te th e w ord “v e rb a t im ” in p a ra g ra p h 3.

Article 10. — A d d a fifth p a ra g ra p h id en tica l w ith p a ra g ra p h 5 of A rtic le 16 of th e R u les ofProcedure of th e A ssem bly , w hich re a d s as follows :

"Any M em ber of th e L eague, o r a n y g ro u p of M em bers, m a y requ ire th a t all d o cu m en ts a n d publications of th e L eague shall be regu la rly tra n s la te d in to , a n d p r in te d a n d c ircu la ted in, a language o th e r th a n F re n c h a n d E ng lish , b u t shall in such case defray all th e necessary ex p enses .”

Article n . — P a ra g ra p h 3 (change affecting th e F ren ch te x t o n ly ) .

Article 13. — R ep lace th is a r tic le b y th e following :

“The Conference sh a ll v o te b y rep re sen ta tiv e s rising in th e ir seats, ex cep t w hen th o se p re sen t at a meeting agree th a t th e m e th o d of v o tin g shall be appel nom inal, a n d ex cep t in th e cases provided for in A rtic le 13.”

A N N E X 3

REPORT ON T H E W O R K O F T H E A D V IS O R Y A N D T E C H N IC A L C O M M IT T E E F O R

COM M UNICATIONS A N D T R A N S IT S IN C E T H E B A R C E L O N A C O N F E R E N C E .

The A dvisory a n d T ech n ica l C o m m ittee for C om m unications a n d T ra n s it h a s su b m it te d general reports on i ts w o rk to each of th e A ssem blies since th e B arcelona Conference. T hese re p o r ts have been com m u n ica ted to a ll th e G o v ern m en ts , w hich therefo re possess a s ta te m e n t of th e w ork which has been accom plished .

In these circu m stan ces , th e A d v iso ry a n d T echn ica l C om m ittee h as n o t deem ed i t n ecessary to draw up a new re p o r t on its w ork for th e p re sen t Conference, as such a re p o r t w ould in e v ita b ly cover the same g ro u n d a s th e d o c u m e n ts w hich h av e a lread y been c ircu la ted to th e G o v ern m en ts . Sut it has been th o u g h t ad v isab le to g ive below a m em o ran d u m of th e sessions h e ld b y th e P le n a ry Committee and of th e q u es tio n s i t h a s d ea lt w ith . I t should be p o in ted o u t th a t th e w ork of th e Committee in p len a ry session h a s been , in m ost cases, p rep a red b y v arious su b -co m m ittee s w hich were either general su b -c o m m itte e s such as those for tra n sp o r t b y rail, fo r t ra n s p o r t b y w a te r and f°r general affairs, o r specia l su b -co m m ittee s like those dealing w ith th e eq u itab le tr e a t- mfent of commerce, h y d ro -e lec tr ic questions, th e q u es tio n of op ium in free po rts , th e refo rm 01 the calendar, a n d th e m easu re s to b e ta k e n to p rev en t th e sp read of ep idem ics a long w ater- Ways. In th is m e m o ra n d u m th e sessions held a n d th e q u estions d ea lt w ith h a v e been d iv id ed Wording to periods co rre sp o n d in g to th e re p o r ts to th e v arious Assem blies.

This will m ake i t easier to find th e d e ta ils e ith e r in th e rep o rts or in th e m in u te s of th e Com- e, which h a v e also b e e n sen t to a ll th e G overnm ents.

** *

— 42 —

I . P e r i o d b e t w e e n t h e B a r c e l o n a C o n f e r e n c e (A p r i l 1921) a n d t h e S e c o n d Assembly

(S e p t e m b e r 1 9 2 1 ) .

Session held at Geneva from J u ly 2 5 th to 2 8 th, 1 9 2 1 .

Questions dealt w ith :

1. E s ta b lish m e n t of R ules of P rocedure .2. C o n stitu tio n of th re e G enera l S ub-C om m ittees :

(a) S u b-C om m ittee for T ra n sp o r t b y R ail.(b) S ub -C om m ittee for T ra n sp o r t b y W ate r .(c) S u b-C om m ittee for G enera l Affairs.

3. C onsidera tion of th e R eco m m en d a tio n s of th e B arce lo n a C onference tra n sm itte d by the Conference a n d b y th e Council.

4. T ravelling fac ilities fo r th e b lind .

I I . P e r i o d b e t w e e n t h e S e c o n d A s s e m b l y (S e p t e m b e r 1921) a n d t h e T h i r d Assembly

(S e p t e m b e r 1 9 2 2 ) .

Sessions held:

A. A t Geneva from M arch 20th to 31 st, 1922.

Questions dealt w ith :

1. S um m er tim e.2. T rave lling fac ilities fo r th e b lind .3. S leeping-car traffic in C en tra l E u ro p e .4. P rep a ra tio n s for th e C onven tion on R ailw ays.5. U nification of to n n ag e m e a su re m e n t in in lan d n av ig a tio n .6. U nification of th e to n n a g e m e a su re m e n t o f m a r i t im e vessels.7. U nification of p r iv a te law in in la n d n av ig a tio n .8. Cession of e lec tric pow er.9. Co-operation w ith th e In te rn a t io n a l A ir N av ig a tio n Com m ission.

10. E q u itab le t r e a tm e n t of com m erce.11. R egim e of p a s sp o r ts a n d visas.12. R eform of th e ca lendar.

B. A t Geneva, from A u g u s t 30th to Septem ber 2nd, 1 9 2 2 .

Questions dealt ivith :

1. E x am in a tio n of th e R eso lu tions of th e G enoa C onference t r a n s m it te d to th e Committee.2. Control of th e op ium traffic in free po rts .3 . In te rp re ta tio n of th e C onvention on th e R eg im e of N av igab le W a te rw a y s of In te rn a t io n a l

Concern.4. E qu itab le tre a tm e n t of com m erce.5. P repara tion of th e G eneral C onven tion on th e In te rn a t io n a l R egim e of Railways.6. R eform of th e calendar.7. H ydro-electric questions.8. Measures to b e tak en to p rev en t th e sp read of ep idem ics th ro u g h traffic on waterways. 9- R equest from th e G overning Com m ission of th e S aa r B asin regard in g th e railways of e

Saar, and th e B erne In te rn a tio n a l C onven tion o n G oods Traffic of O c to b er 14th, 1890.

I I I . P e r i o d b e t w e e n t h e T h i r d A s s e m b l y ( S e p t e m b e r 1 9 2 2 )

a n d t h e S e c o n d G e n e r a l C o n f e r e n c e ( N o v e m b e r 1 9 2 3 .)

Sessions held :

A. A t Geneva from A p ril 2,yrd to 3 0 th, 1 9 2 3 .

Questions dealt with :

1.

2.P ra^ Convention and S ta tu te on th e In te rn a t io n a l R eg im e of R ailw ays. . p r

ra t Convention and S ta tu te re la ting to th e T ransm ission in T ra n s it of Electric

— 43 —

3. D ra ft C o n ven tion a n d S ta tu te re la tin g to th e D evelopm en t of H y d ra u lic P o w er on W a te r ­courses fo rm ing P a r t of a B asin s i tu a te d in th e T e rr ito ry of Severa l S ta te s .

4. D ra ft C onven tion a n d S ta tu te on th e In te rn a t io n a l R egim e of M aritim e P o rts .5. R ad io -te leg raph ic questions.

B. A t Geneva from A u g u s t 29th to Septem ber 1st, 1923.

Questions dealt with :

1. U nification of to n n a g e m easu rem en t in in la n d n av iga tion .2. U nification of p r iv a te law a s reg a rd s in la n d nav iga tion .3. H ea lth co n tro l of traffic on w aterw ays.4. Control of op ium traffic in free po rts .5. C ustom s form alities to be com plied w ith in connection w ith a ir traffic.6. In te rn a tio n a l d riv in g licence fo r m o to r vehicles.7. R ad io -te leg raph ic questions.8. Official tim e.9. R eform of th e ca lendar.

10. A pp lica tion of th e reso lu tio n s of th e G enoa Conference.

REPORT P R E S E N T E D B Y T H E SE C R E T A R Y -G E N E R A L OF T H E LE A G U E OF N A T IO N S

ON T H E M E A SU R E S T A K E N IN E X E C U T IO N OF TH E D EC ISIO N S O F T H E

BARCELONA C O N FE R E N C E

CHAPTER I. — ACTION T A K E N ON D E C ISIO N S OF TH E BARCELO NA C O N F E R E N C E

WITH A V IE W TO T H E A D O P T IO N OF C O N V EN TIO N S A N D RECOM M ENDATIONS.

(General Convention on Freedom of Transit, General Convention on the Regim e of N avigable Waterways of International Concern, Additional Protocol to the Convention on the R egim e of Navigable W aterw ays of International Concern, Declaration recognising the R ight to a F lag of States having no Sea-Coast, R ecom m endations relative to the International Regim e of R ailw ays, Recommendations relative to Ports placed under an International Regime.)

A N N E X 4

A. P r e s e n t P o s it io n a s r e g a r d s R a t i f ic a t i o n s a n d A d h e s i o n s .

i. General Convention on Freedom of T ra n sit.

(a) This Convention has been signed by :

Alb a n ia

Au s t r ia

Be lg iu m

Bo liv ia

F i n l a n d

F r a n c e

G r e e c e

G u a t e m a l a

I n d i a

I t a l y

J a p a n

L a t v ia

L i t h u a n i a

L u x e m b u r g

N e t h e r l a n d s

N e w Z e a l a n d

N o r w a y

P a n a m a

P e r s ia

P o l a n d

R o u m a n ia

S p a in

Sw e d e n

Sw i t z e r l a n d

U r u g u a y

Br it is h E m p i r eBu l g a r ia

Chile

Chin a

Cz e c h o s l o v a k ia

De n m a r k

E s t h o n ia

(&) This Convention has been ratified by :

Alb a n ia

Br it ish E m p i r eBu lgar ia

Cz e c h o s l o v a k ia

D e n m a r k

F i n l a n d

I n d i a

I t a l y

L a t v ia

N e w Z e a l a n d

N o r w a y

R o u m a n ia

^ Subject to ratification, b y :

(c) This Convention has been adhered to by :S ia m

Co l o m b ia

— 44 —

2. General Convention on the Regime of Navigable Waterways of International Concern.

(a) This Convention has

A l b a n ia

A u s t r ia

B e l g iu m

B o l iv ia

B r it is h E m p ir e B u l g a r ia Ch il e Ch in a

Cze c h o s l o v a k ia

been signed b y :

D e n m a r k E s t h o n i a F i n l a n d F r a n c e G r e e c e G u a t e m a l a I n d i a I t a l y L i t h u a n i a

L u x e m b u r g

N e w Z e a l a n d

N o r w a y

P a n a m a

P o r t u g a l

S w e d e n

S p a in

U r u g u a y

(b) This Convention has been ratified b y :

A l b a n i a D e n m a r kB r i t i s h E m p ir e F in l a n d

B u l g a r i a I n d i a

I t a l y

N e w Z e a l a n d N o r w a y

(c) This Convention has been adhered to b y :

S ia m

and, subject to ratification, b y :

Co l o m b ia

R o u m a n ia

3. Additional Protocol to the General Convention on the Regime of Navigable Waterways of Inter­national Concern.

(a) This Protocol has been signed b y :

A l b a n i a C z e c h o s l o v a k i a (naturallyA u s t r i a navigable waterways)B e l g iu m D e n m a r k

B r i t i s h E m p i r e F i n l a n d (naturally navi-C h i l e gable waterways)

G r e e c e

I n d i a

N e w Z e a l a n d

N o r w a y

P o r t u g a l

S p a in

S w e d e n

(b) This Protocol has been ratified b y :

A l b a n i a F i n l a n d (naturally navi-B r i t i s h E m p i r e gable waterways)D e n m a r k I n d ia

N e w Z e a l a n d N o r w a y

(c) This Protocol has been adhered to b y :

S ia m

4. Declaration recognising the R ight to a Flag of States having no Sea-Coast.

(a) This Declaration has been signed by:

A l b a n ia

A u s t r ia

B e l g iu m

B o l iv ia

B r it is h E m p ir e B u i g a r ia Ch il e Ch in a

Czec h o slo v a k ia

D e n m a r k

E s t h o n ia

F r a n c e

G r e e c e

G u a t e m a l a

I n d i a

I t a l y

J a p a n

L a t v ia

L it h u a n i a

N e t h e r l a n d s

N e w Z e a l a n d

N o r w a y

P a n a m a

P e r s i a

P o l a n d

P o r t u g a l

K in g d o m o f t h e Ser b s , C r o a t s a n d S lovenes

S p a in S w e d e n S w i t z e r l a n d U r u g u a y

(£>) This Declaration has been ratified or is already considered as binding without rati fication by:

A l b a n i a D e n m a r k N e w Z e a l a n d

A u s t r a l i a F i n l a n d N o r w a y

B r i t i s h E m p ir e F r a n c e S ia m

B u l g a r i a I n d i a S o u t h A f r ic a

C a n a d a N e t h e r l a n d s

(c) This Declaration has been adhered to, subject to ratification, by

R o u m a n ia

— 45 —

It should b e a d d ed t h a t th e S ec re ta r ia t of th e L eague has been officially in fo rm ed th a t th e polish Diet has ad o p te d a law au tho ris ing th e Polish G ov ern m en t to ra t ify th e G eneral C onven tions on f re e d o m of T ra n s it and on th e R egim e of N av igab le W a te rw ay s of In te rn a t io n a l Concern, and that th e A ssem bly h as been notified t h a t th e F re n c h C ham ber of D ep u tie s has ad o p te d a law authorising th e F ren ch G ov ern m en t to ra tify th e G eneral C onvention on F reed o m of T ran s it.

B. G e n o a Co n f e r e n c e .

On April 30 th , 1922, th e G enoa Conference, on th e p roposa l of i ts T ra n sp o r t Com m ission, adopted th e following reso lu tions, w hich were co m m unica ted to th e Council a n d th e A ssem bly of the League:

A rticle 2. — " I t is desirab le th a t all th e E u ro p ean S ta te s signatory of th e C onven tions concluded a t B arce lona on A pril 20 th , 1921, regard ing F reedom of T ra n s it a n d th e Regim e of N av ig ab le W a te rw a y s of In te rn a tio n a l Concern, shoul 1 ra tify these C onven tions a t th e earlies t possib le m o m en t, if th e y hav e n o t a lready done so, an d th a t th e E u ro p e a n S ta tes w'hich a re n e ith e r signa to ries of these C onventions n o r p a r tie s th e re to shou ld p u t th e ir p rov is ions in to o p e ra tio n w ith o u t d e lay .”

A rticle 3. — “ T he E u ro p ean S ta te s rep resen ted a t G enoa n o te w ith sa tis fac tio n th e w ork accom plished a t B arce lo n a in regard to th e Regim e of In te rn a tio n a l P o rts . T h ey deem it desirab le th a t th e C onven tions re la tin g to P o rts , R a ilw ays a n d W a te rw a y s co n tem p la ted b y th e T rea tie s of P eace shou ld b e p repared and p u t in to o p e ra tio n as soon as possible, a n d th e y deem it equa lly desirab le th a t th e R eco m m en d a tio n s of th e Conference of B arce lo n a reg a rd in g th e In te rn a tio n a l Regim e of R a ilw ays shou ld be p u t in to o p era tion w ith o u t d e la y .”

C. Act io n t a k e n b y t h e S e c r e t a r y - G e n e r a l o f t h e L e a g u e i n a c c o r d a n c e w i t h A r t i c l e 13 of t h e R u l e s f o r t h e O r g a n i s a t i o n o f G e n e r a l C o n f e r e n c e s a n d o f t h e A d v i s o r y and T e c h n i c a l C o m m i t t e e f o r C o m m u n ic a t i o n s a n d T r a n s i t .

In accordance w ith A rtic le 13 of th e R ules of O rgan isa tion an d in execu tion of th e decisions of the Advisory a n d T ech n ica l C om m ittee , th e S ecre tary-G enera l of th e L eague sen t th e following letter on Ju ly 2 5 th , 1922, to all th e G o v ern m en ts of th e S ta te s M em bers of th e L eague :

“ In acco rd an ce w ith A rtic le 13 of th e R ules fo r th e O rgan isa tion of G enera l Confe­rences a n d of th e A d v iso ry a n d T echn ica l C om m ittee for C om m unica tions an d T ra n s it , the S ecre ta ry -G en era l of th e L eague of N a tio n s rhou ld , one y e a r a f te r th e close of a C onfe­rence, a n d u n d e r re se rv a tio n of th e r ig h ts of th e Council an d th e A ssem bly to exercise a contro l, a p p ly to all M em bers of th e L eague an d ask th em to in fo rm hirn w h a t m easu res have been ta k e n to c a r ry o u t th e decisions of th e Conference.

“As re g a rd s th e C onference on C om m unications an d T ra n s it w hich to o k p lace a t B arcelona in 1921, th is d e lay of one y e a r a f te r th e exercise of th e ab o v e-m en tio n ed r ig h ts of con tro l a n d th e co m m u n ica tio n of th e in s tru m e n ts of th a t C onference to th e G o v e rn ­m ents h a s now expired .

“M oreover, th e A dv iso ry a n d T echnical C om m ittee for C om m unications a n d T ra n s it adopted a t i ts la s t session th e following reso lu tion w ith regard to th e s ig n a tu re a n d ra tification of th e B arce lo n a C onven tions:

‘“ T h e C om m ittee decides to ask th e G overnm en ts w hich are n o t s igna to ries of th e B arce lo n a C onven tions w h e th e r th e y in ten d to sign, a n d to d raw th e a t te n t io n of s ig n a to ry G o v ern m en ts to th e expediency of h a s ten in g , a., fa r as possible, th e p ro ced u re of ra tif ic a tio n .’

“F in a lly , th e In te rn a t io n a l E conom ic Conference of G enoa a d o p te d — in connec ­tion w ith th e B arce lo n a C onven tions an d R ecom m endations — th e following reso lu tions (Articles 2 a n d 3 of th e R e p o rt of th e T ra n sp o r t Com m ission), th e p u t t in g in to p rac tice of which is re fe rred fo r co n sid e ra tio n b y th e techn ica l o rgan isa tions of th e L eague of Nations, in v ir tu e of a n o th e r reso lu tion ad o p ted b y th e G enoa C onference (A rticle 8) :

“ ' I t is d esirab le th a t all th e E u ro p ean S ta te s s ig n a to ry of th e C onven tions concluded a t B arce lo n a on A pril 20 th , 1921, regard ing F reed o m of T ra n s it a n d th e R egim e of N av ig ab le W a te rw a y s of In te rn a tio n a l Concern, shou ld r a t i fy th ese C onven tions a t th e earliest possib le m om en t, if th e y h av e n o t a lre a d y d one so, and th a t th e E u ro p e a n S ta te s w hich are n e ith e r s ignato ries of th ese C onven tions nor p a r t ie s th e re to shou ld p u t th e ir p rovisions in to o p e ra tio n w ith o u t d e la y .’

“ ‘ T h e E u ro p e a n S ta te s rep resen ted a t G enoa n o te w ith sa tis fac tio n th e w ork accom plished a t B arce lona in regard to th e Regim e of In te rn a t io n a l P o rts . T h ey

- 46 -

deem it equally desirable that the recom m endations of th e Conference of Barcelona regarding the international regime of railways should be put in to operation without delay.*

“ In order to allow of the putting in to practice of the above-m entioned Resolutions I have the honour to request you to inform me before Decem ber i s t n ext what measureshave been taken b y the ...................................... Government to carry out the differentdecisions prepared and adopted b y the Barcelona Conference.”

The replies received m ay be summarised as follows :

As regards the General Convention on Freedom of Transit, all the replies recehed stated that the Governments concerned intended to ratify this Convention or to adhere to it. I t should further be pointed out that all the States represented at the Genoa Conference authorised their representatives to m ake the sam e declaration.

As regards the General Convention on the Regim e of N avigable W aterw ays of International Concern, the situation appears to be the sam e as th at resulting from the discussions of the Trans­port Commission of th e Genoa Conference.

This Commission, as has already been pointed out, adopted a resolution declaring that it was desirable that all the European States signatory to the Conventions concluded at Barcelona should ratify these C onventions as soon as possible. Certain D elegations adopted this resolution subject to the following declarations or reservations :

The Netherlands D elegation form ulated a reservation upon Article 2, considering that it rested w ith the com petent constitutional authorities in each country to pronounce upon the advi­sability of putting th e work of Barcelona in to practice, and that th e D elegation must abstain from pronouncing upon th e intrinsic value of these Conventions, on the ground that the Genoa Conference could neither exam ine nor discuss them .

The Swiss D elegation declared th a t it did not m ake its adherence absolutely dependent on that of the N etherlands Governm ent ; b u t it thought it proper to sta te th at the Federal Government had felt itself unable up to the present to accept the Convention of Barcelona on Navigable W aterways, because certain articles of th is Convention did not g ive it complete satisfac­tion. The Federal G overnm ent, however, w as continuing to exam ine this question with all the attention that it deserved and w ith the aim of collaborating in the work of furthering the general interest in the m atter of international transport.

The French D elegation had associated itself w ith th e recom m endation th at the Convention of Barcelona relating to N avigable W aterw ays should be ratified b y all the European States, but declared that th e French Governm ent m ight find itself unable to ratify this Convention if two other r ip a rian States of the Rhine, the Netherlands and Switzerland, were not prepared to accept it.

The Portuguese D elegation declared th at the Barcelona Conventions had not yet been ratified b y the Portuguese Governm ent because it had n ot y e t received th e inform ation called for from the Portuguese Colonies which m ight allow it to proceed to ratification.

Its ratification would, however, in any case be subject to the reservations made by the Por­tuguese delegate at Barcelona itself.

The Roum anian Delegation also m ade a reservation a t the sam e tim e, but subsequently, a f te r correspondence w ith the Secretary-General of the League, Roum ania has, subject to ratifi­c a tio n , adhered to the Convention, in accordance w ith a formula which disposes of th e original misunderstanding (the correspondence was com m unicated to all the States Members of th e League).

All the replies received sta te that the recom m endations on the international regime of railways are being applied.

The recommendations on ports placed under an international regime were not of a nature to allow of so general an enquiry being carried out, but it m ay be m entioned th at they have been utilised, for instance, in drawing up the T reaty concluded a t Lausanne.

D. W o r k o f t h e A d v i s o r y a n d T e c h n i c a l C o m m i t t e e w i t h a v i e w t o f a c i l i t a t i n g R a t i ­

f i c a t i o n s o f t h e G e n e r a l C o n v e n t i o n o n t h e R e g im e o f N a v i g a b l e W a terw ays

o f I n t e r n a t i o n a l C o n c e r n , o r A d h e s i o n s t h e r e t o .

At its session in August-Septem ber 1922, th e A dvisory and Technical C o m m itte e adopted the following resolution :

“The Committee, w ith a view to facilitating as far as possible the r a t i f i c a t io n of the Convention of the Regim e of N avigable W aterw ays of International Concern, or the adhesions thereto which were again requested b y the Genoa Conference, in a Resolution

forwarded by the Council, the execution of which is to be supervised b y the Com mittee,

is of opinion that in certain cases m isunderstandings m ay place difficulties in the wa) of these ratifications or adhesions, and, for these reasons, considers it desirable that t e Governments concerned, and especially the States taking part in drawing up a Naviga 10 Act f o r a wraterway of international concern, should, in such cases, take a ll su ita * measures to make certain that such m isunderstandings do not exist, or, if they exis, to dispel them.

It draws the attention of Governm ents which m ay not be prepared at Prese to ratify or to give their adhesion to the Convention to the advisability of refrai 6 trom a definite refusal until such efforts have been made.

— 47 —

“I t in v ite s th e S ec re ta ry -G en era l of th e L eague of N a tio n s to encourage, b y every m ean s in h is pow er, th e conclusion of all ag reem en ts of th is n a tu re , i t being, how ever, c learly u n d e rs to o d th a t such ag reem en ts shou ld in no case a n d in n o w ay d e ro g a te from th e r ig h ts of o th e r S ta te s w hich are C o n tra c tin g P a r t ie s to th e C o n v en tio n .”

In view of th e first rep lies received, a n d of th e d e lib e ra tio n s of th e G enoa C onference regard in g ra tifications of th e G eneral C onven tion o n th e R eg im e of N av ig ab le W a te rw a y s of In te rn a tio n a l Concern an d adhesions th e re to , th is R eso lu tio n , a f te r be ing ap p ro v e d b y th e Council a n d th e Assembly, w as b ro u g h t to th e n o tice of all th e S ta te s concerned.

The A d v iso ry a n d T echn ica l C o m m ittee w as in fo rm ed th a t th e C e n tra l Com m ission for th e Rhine N aviga tion h a d p u t th e ex am in a tio n of th is question on i t s ag enda . A p re lim in ary examination to o k p lace a t th e la s t session of th e C en tra l Com m ission fo r th e R h in e N av ig a tio n , and the m a tte r w ill rece ive fu r th e r consid e ra tio n a t su b seq u en t sessions.

At the la s t session of th e A dv iso ry a n d T ech n ica l C om m ittee , th e S ec re ta ry -G en era l of th e Com mittee also c o m m u n ic a te d a re q u e s t from th e Chinese G o v ern m en t w ith re g a rd to th e in te r ­pretation to be g iven to th e R eso lu tio n a d o p te d concerning th e m easu res to assist th e p u t t in g in to force of th e B arce lo n a C o n ven tion on th e R eg im e of N av igab le W a te rw a y s of In te rn a t io n a l Concern. T h e C hinese G o v e rn m en t asked w h e th e r th e p ro cedure reco m m en d ed in th e R eso lu tio n ought also to be ap p lied to th e C on v en tio n on F reed o m of T ra n s it in cases in w hich difficulties of in te rp re ta t ion o r a p p lica tio n p re v e n te d S ta te s from ra tify in g or ad hering to t h a t C onven tion .

The C om m ittee w as u n a n im o u s in th in k in g th a t th e suggested in te rp re ta t io n wras th e one which should b e g iven to its R eso lu tio n o f S ep tem b er 1922.

C H A P T E R I I . — A C T IO N T A K E N O N T H E R E C O M M E N D A T IO N S O F T H E

B A R C E L O N A C O N F E R E N C E .

Recommendation N o . 1 :

“T h e C onference d raw s th e a t te n t io n of th e Council an d th e A ssem bly of th e L eague to th e q u es tio n of th e renew al c f th e A d v iso ry a n d T echnical C om m ittee in th e e v en t of no fu r th e r C onference be ing h e ld w ith in a pe rio d of fo u r y ea rs .”

It has n o t seem ed possib le o r t im e ly to exam ine th e q ues tion raised b y th is reco m m en d a tio n in view of th e fa c t t h a t th e Second G enera l C onference on C om m unications an d T ra n s it w as arranged to ta k e p lace w ith in a perio d of fo u r y e a rs a f te r th e first Conference.

Recommendation N o . 2 :

“T h e C onference reco m m en d s th a t th e n e x t A ssem bly shou ld m od ify th e R eso lu tion ad op ted concern ing th e ca lling o f th e G enera l Conference in o rd e r to p e rm it its m ee tin g in full session each t im e th a t a t le a s t o n e - th ird of th e M em bers of th e L eague m a k e such a request."

The Second A ssem bly a d o p te d th e fo llow ing R eso lu tion , w hich gives effect to th is reco m ­mendation, su b jec t to c e r ta in m odifica tions:

“T h e A ssem bly resolves th a t , w ith o u t p re jud ice to th e te rm s of p a ra g ra p h 4 of Section 1 of th e R eso lu tio n of D ecem ber 9 th , 1920, re la tin g to th e O rg an isa tio n for C om m unications a n d T ra n s it , th e G eneral Conferences on C om m unications a n d T ra n s it shall m ee t as of r ig h t a t th e sea t of th e L eague on th e req u est of one-half of th e M em bers of th e L eague. Such re q u e s t sh a ll be ad d ressed to th e S ecre ta ry -G enera l of th e L eague, and th e o b jec t a n d th e A g en d a of th e C onference shall be a t ta c h e d to th e req u es t. I t shall be th e d u ty of th e S ec re ta ry -G en era l of th e L eague to convene th e C onference.”

Recommendation N o . 3 :

"T h e C onference recom m ends th a t th e L eague of N a tio n s shou ld , as soon a s pos­sible, in v ite i ts M em bers to m ee t w ith a v iew to d raw in g u p new C onven tions fo r th e regulation of th e r ig h ts a n d d u tie s in re g a rd to t ra n s i t of b e llig e ren ts a n d n e u tra ls in time of w a r .” T h is w as a d o p te d b y 23 v o te s to 5.

This Recommendation w as re fe rred to th e C ouncil of th e League, w hich decided to a d jo u rn ^ d era tio n of i t , a s th e w hole of these q u es tio n s w ere being exam ined accord ing to a d iffe ren t

1 ;'-hod of procedure, in consequence of th e decisions of th e In te rn a t io n a l C onference h e ld a tWashington. .

Commendation N o . 4 :

“T he Conference, b e a r in g in m in d th e im p o rtan ce of th e conclusion w ith in a period of tw o y e a rs of a C on v en tio n on ra ilw ays, recom m ends t h a t a C onference shou ld m ee t in good tim e to p e rm it of th e p re p a ra t io n a n d conclusion of such a C onven tion w ith in th e period in d ic a te d .”

Effect has been g iv en to th is re c o m m e n d a tio n .

Recom m endation N o. 5:

- 48 -

“T he Conference, b ea r in g in m in d th a t i t is desirable , w ith a view to th e improve m e n t of w ays of co m m u n ica tio n of in te rn a tio n a l concern , t h a t S ta te s h a v in g an abundant su p p ly of e lec trica l p ow er shou ld concede a p a r t of i t to S ta te s in w a n t thereof, recom­m ends th a t th is q u es tio n shou ld b e exam ined . "

T h e re p o r t on e lectric q u es tio n s su b m it te d to th e Conference, to g e th e r w ith th e report on th e D ra f t G eneral C onven tion on th e In te rn a t io n a l R egim e of R ailw ays, gives an account of the resu lts of th e in v es tig a tio n s to w hich th is reco m m en d a tio n gave rise.

Recommendation N o. 6:

"T h e C onference d ec la res t h a t i t is h igh ly desirab le t h a t th e q u es tio n of the extent to w hich i t is possib le to s im plify in te rn a l ra ilw ay tariffs a n d to b r in g th e m in to greater u n ifo rm ity sh o u ld b e s tu d ied , p a r t ic u la r ly as reg a rd s g roups of co n tig u o u s territories."

T h e co n sid e ra tio n of th e ac tio n ta k e n on th is reco m m en d a tio n is p a r t of th e general pre­p a ra to ry w ork for th e C on v en tio n on th e In te rn a t io n a l R egim e of R ailw ays.

A N N E X 5

M E M O R A N D U M B Y T H E C H IN E S E G O V E R N M E N T .

R egarding the E xped iency and N ecessity of revising certain Special Treaties with a view to bringing them into C onform ity , from the Econom ic and Political P o in ts of V iew , with the Principles of Freedom, E q u a lity and R eciprocity la id down in the Barcelona Convention, and also with a view to establishing In terna tiona l C om m unications in China in accordance with that Convention.

D esirous of fa ith fu lly observ ing th e ob lig a tio n — one of th e m o s t im p o r ta n t and urgent im posed on th e M em bers of th e L eague of N a tio n s b y th e C o v e n a n t— th a t provision should be m ade b y all th e various n a tio n s to secure a n d m a in ta in freedom of co m m u n ica tio n s and of transit in accordance w ith A rtic le 23 of th e C ovenan t, th e Chinese G o v ern m en t, in response to th e invitation of th e Council of th e L eague of N atio n s , in M arch 1921 se n t to B arcelona , a n d in sp ite of various economic difficulties a n d c e r ta in ex is ting ob liga tions, e x p e r t rep re se n ta tiv e s to a ss is t in th e prepa­ra tio n of th e C onventions a n d S ta tu te s , th e A d d itio n a l P ro toco l, th e D ecla ra tio n , th e Recommenda­tions an d th e F in a l A c t of th e Conference. T hese official d o cu m en ts w ere signed before December 1st, 1921, b y th e Chinese M inister P le n ip o te n tia ry a t B em e.

M oreover, th e fac t of h e r e n tra n c e in to th e L eague of N a tio n s in 1919 c learly indicated the fixed d e te rm in a tio n of C hina to a b a n d o n com p le te ly h e r po licy of iso la tio n a n d also to discharge, in accordance w ith th e princ ip les of l ib e r ty a n d respec t fo r th e r ig h ts a n d in te re s ts of all peoples alike, th e in te rn a tio n a l ob lig a tio n s w hich co-opera tion , w ith th e o th e r n a tio n s of th e world, impose upon her.

The Chinese G overnm en t, how ever, c a n n o t b u t recognise th e fa c t th a t in i ts particular case th e existence of num erous special t re a t ie s p rev io u s ly concluded w ith c e r ta in of th e Contracting Powers will prove a source of serious d ifficulty if th e B arce lo n a C onven tions a n d th e special clauses of these T reaties are to be app lied co n cu rren tly .

In its an x ie ty to d ischarge its d u tie s to o th e r n a tio n s a n d to observe s t r ic t ly the Barcelona

in s tru m en ts to which it affixed i ts s ig n a tu re , th e Chinese G o v ern m en t th in k s it desirable in regard

m ore particu la rly to A rticle 10, p a ra g ra p h 2, of th e S ta tu te on T ra n s it , an d A rtic le 13, p a ra g ra p h 2, of the S ta tu te on N avigable W ate rw ay s , to ex p la in to th e p resen t G enera l Conference, which is to

consider the m easures ad o p ted to c a r ry in to execu tio n th e B arce lo n a decisions, th e reasons whi 1

have so f a r preven ted th e Chinese G o v e rn m en t from ra tify in g th e C onventions. I t is high}

desirable th a t th is Conference shou ld assis t i t in rem oving these obstac les w hich s tand in its and for which it is no t responsible. T h e A dv iso ry a n d T echn ica l C o m m ittee for C o m m u n ic a tio n s

and I r a n s i t , as will be seen from th e S ec re ta ry -G en era l’s re p o rt , h a s a lre a d y ind ica ted the proper course to b e pursued when it recom m ended th a t n eg o tia tio n s should be opened betw een the Po\'er=

concerned w henever difficulties of th is n a tu re should arise. .Only b y m eans of n ego tia tions of th is c h a ra c te r will it b e possib le to secure, under condi i° =

which will be recognised as abso lu te ly va lid from a legal p o in t of view , th e consen t of these " ° 've w ith a view to determ ining, a t th e earlies t possib le d a te th e m e th o d b y w hich th e Barcelona 0 ventions can be executed u n d er th e special cond itions w hich p reva il in C hina ; a n d only in this " ^ can th e necessary arrangem en ts be m ad e so as to b r in g c e r ta in ex is ting tre a tie s which a e \ ariance w ith th e principles of th e B arcelona C onven tions in to h a rm o n y w ith these Conv en 1

i h e Chinese D elegation m a y p e rh ap s be p e rm itte d to ca ll a t te n t io n once m ore to the fo 0 in te rp re ta tio n placed b y th e C om m ittee of J u r is ts of th e B arce lo n a C onference on Article 10 0 .s ta tu te on Freedom of T ran sit :

— 49 —

x. T he P ow ers w hich en jo y special a d v a n ta g e s in t r e a ty p o rts a n d on c e r ta in traffic ro u te s fflaV not invoke ap p ea l to th e B arcelona C o nven tions for th e pu rpose of o b ta in in g a n y ex tensions of the rights w hich th e y h a v e acq u ired in th e sa id p o r ts a n d on th e sa id traffic rou tes.

2. Pow ers n o t p a r ty to th e special tre a t ie s ex is ting as a re su lt of th e s ig n a tu re of th e B arcelona C o n v e n tio n s sha ll n o t be en tit le d , in th e t r e a ty p o rts a n d on th e traffic ro u te s re fe rred to above, to claim those a d v a n ta g e s specia lly g ra n te d to s ig n a to ry S ta tes .

3. The regim e la id dow n in th e B arce lona C onven tions on F reed o m of T ra n s i t a n d on N a v i­gable W aterw ays shall a lone be app licab le on traffic ro u te s a n d in p o rts w hich m a y be opened in future w ith a view to p ro m o tin g in te rn a tio n a l tra d e .

I t would b e h ig h ly desirab le th a t th e Pow ers concerned shou ld neverth e less c lea r ly s ta te th a t they accept th is in te rp re ta t io n .

Moreover, to effect th e m odifica tions req u ired to b rin g ce r ta in ex is ting tre a t ie s w hich c o n ­travene the princ ip les of freedom , e q u a lity a n d rec ip ro c ity la id dow n in th ese C onven tio n s in to harmony w ith th e la t te r , i t w ould also be ind ispensab le for th e P ow ers concerned to agree to e n te r into negotiations w ith th e Chinese G ov ern m en t in accordance w ith th e u n d e r ta k in g s a ssu m ed in connection w ith th e B arce lo n a C onven tions:

( a ) T he p rinc ip le of th e freedom of co m m unica tions en u n c ia ted a t B arce lo n a is v io la te d b y the existence of c e r ta in tre a t ie s w hich exp lic itly give th e C on trac tin g S ta te s th e exclusive pow er to exercise righ ts over co m m u n ica tio n s a n d occasionally to im pose t r a n s i t du ties .

(b) The p rinc ip le of eq u a l t r e a tm e n t la id dow n a t B arcelona is v io la ted b y th e ex is tence of extra-territorial r ig h ts w hich place re s tr ic tio n s on th e freedom of foreigners t o reside a n d c a r ry on trade in p o rts specifically m en tioned .

To open u p to in te rn a tio n a l t ra d e c e r ta in p laces in th e in te r io r of th e c o u n try on traffic ro u te s which h ith e rto h a v e b een u sed solely fo r n a tio n a l req u irem en ts w ith o u t first abo lish ing e x t r a ­territorial righ ts w ould lead to th e ex ten s io n of a special sy s tem w hich confers benefits on S ta te s parties to ex isting t re a t ie s a n d a t th e sam e tim e w ould b e c o n tra ry n o t on ly to t h a t p o licy of maintaining a care fu lly a d ju s te d equipoise w hich h a s h ith e r to been ad o p te d in re g a rd to fo re igners but also to th e p rinc ip les of e q u ity recognised in in te rn a tio n a l law.

Moreover, c e r ta in Pow ers, w h ich w ere fo rm erly p a r tie s to special trea tie s , no longer en jo y any special a d v a n ta g e s since th e ir re a p p ea ran ce in C hina a f te r th e war.

This fac t leads to a d ifference in th e t r e a tm e n t accorded to foreigners, ev en in th e case of the treaty ports.

Different d u tie s a n d charg es m u s t, m oreover, be p laced on foreign vessels accord ing to th e ports with w hich th e y t r a d e an d th e ir flag. S im ila r differences will be fo u n d b e tw een th e im p o r t duties payable on th e la n d f ro n tie r a n d th e d u tie s a t seaports.

(c) The p rinc ip le of rec ip ro c ity w hich w as en u n c ia ted a t B arcelona in connec tio n w ith in te r ­national and n a tio n a l w a te rw a y s is v io la ted b y th e tre a t ie s a n d reg u la tio n s w hich b es to w u p o n foreigners th e r ig h t to c a r ry o n in lan d n av ig a tio n . T h is r ig h t, w hich confers n o co rrespond ing r ig h t on the o ther p a r ty , is th e m o s t s tr ik in g case in po in t.

In sum m arising b riefly th e above s ta te m e n t of its views, th e Chinese G o v e rn m en t w ould express the confident hope :

(1) T ha t w hen th e G enera l Conference h a s o b ta in e d ad e q u a te in fo rm atio n a n d a n a c c u ra te idea of the s itu a tio n , i t m a y b e in a p osition to ind ica te to th e Pow ers concerned th e d ifficulties experienced b y C hina in g iv ing effect to th e B arce lo n a C onventions a n d S ta tu te s c o n jo in tly w ith existing trea ties or ag reem en ts ; i t w ould a p p e a r th a t these difficulties m ig h t be overcom e b y a display of th a t sp ir i t of goodw ill an d concilia tion w hich shou ld su re ly be th e response to C h in a ’s fen determ ination to d e p a r t from h er tra d it io n a l po licy a n d becom e a m em b er of th e fam ily of great m odem na tio n s .

(2) T hat th e P ow ers concerned , ac ting in con fo rm ity w ith th e sp ir it of e q u ity w hich a n im a te s their policy, will g ive C hina all th e ass is tance necessary to secure full recogn ition for th e in te rp re ­tation of Article 10 to w hich reference has been m ade , w ith a view to defining e x a c tly th e scope of the existing C onven tions a n d m ak in g such m odifica tions in th e fo rm er tre a t ie s as a re req u ired for the purpose of g iv ing effect to th e B arcelona C onventions.

Accordingly th e G o v e rn m en t of th e Chinese R epub lic desires m o st ex p lic itly to re q u e s t th a t the Second G eneral C onference on C om m unica tions a n d T ra n s it will ta k e th e n ecessary m easu re s to assist China b y all th e m ean s in i ts pow er to ra tify th e B arce lo n a C onven tions, a s te p w h ich th e Chinese G overnm ent, fa ith fu l to th e sp ir i t of th e C ovenan t, desires to ta k e a t as ea r ly a d a te as possible.