FINANCE CONVENTIONS OF THE FIRST AND SECOND CONFERENCES FOR THE UNIFORMITY OF LAWS ON BILLS OF EXCHANGE, PROMISSORY NOTES, AND CHEQUES + Switzerland According to two circular letters from the League of Nations dated April 24, 1937, the reservations made by Switzerland when signing the three conventions on bills of exchange and promissory notes of June 7, 1930, and the three conventions on cheques of March 19, 1931, will not apply as from July 1, 1937. The reservations were to the effect that the ratifications of the conventions would take effect only after the adoption of a law revising sections XXIV-XXXIII of the Federal Code of Obligations, or, if necessary, of a special law regarding bills of exchange, promissory notes, and cheques. The Federal Councilor, head of the Swiss Federal Political Department, has informed the Secretary General of the League of Nations that the law above referred to, which embodies the provisions of the Geneva conventions on negotiable instruments, will come into force on July 1, 1937. FISHERIES WHALING CONFERENCE This Government accepted the invitation of the British Government to participate in the Whaling Conference which convened at London on May 24, 1937. The object of the conference is to bring about an agreement between all the countries interested in whaling on the measures to be taken beyond the restrictions included in the convention of September 24, 1931, for the regulation of whaling, in order to prevent excessive and wasteful exploitation of whale fisheries in the Antarctic during the season 1937-38 and subsequent seasons. The composition of the American delegation is as follows: Herschel V. Johnson, first secretary, American Embassy, London Technical Adviser: Lt. Comdr. Merlin O'Neill, United States Coast Guard LABOR TWENTY-THIRD SESSION OF THE INTERNATIONAL LABOR CONFERENCE The President has approved the appointment of the following official delegation to attend the Twenty-third Session of the Inter 4 See Bulletins No. 88, January 1937, p. 12, and No. 90, March 1937, p. 18. national Labor Conference which will convene at Geneva, Switzer land, on June 3, 1937: Delegates: For the Government: Edward F. McGrady, Assistant Secretary of Labor Miss Grace Abbott, Professor of Public Welfare; Editor, For the workers: Robert J. Watt, Secretary, Massachusetts State Federation of Labor For the employers: Advisers: Henry I. Harriman, Chairman of Board, Boston Elevated For the Government delegates: A. Ford Hinrichs, Chief Economist, Bureau of Labor Theodore J. Kreps, Professor of Economics, Stanford Uni- Otto T. Mallery, Philadelphia, Pa. Verne A. Zimmer, Director, Division of Labor Standards, Miss Beatrice McConnell, Economist, United States Carter Goodrich, United States Labor Commissioner, W. Ellison Chalmers, Assistant United States Labor Com- Llewellyn E. Thompson, Jr., American Vice Consul, Geneva, For the workers' delegate: Marion Hedges, International Brotherhood of Electrical Francis J. Gorman, President, United Textile Workers of Miss Lillian Herstein, Executive Board, Chicago Federa- Frank X. Martel, Vice President, International Typographical Union, Detroit, Mich. For the employers' delegate: Robert R. West, President and Treasurer, Riverside and William Menke, Chairman of Board, Menke, Kaufman & Charles M. Winchester, Chairman of Board, J. B. Lyons Co., William Stix Wasserman, Philadelphia, Pa. Arthur Paul, Dexdale Hosiery Mills, Lansdale, Pa. Secretary of the delegation: Miss Mary Hulbert, School of Social Service Administration, University of Chicago. NAVIGATION INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION FOR THE UNIFICATION OF CERTAIN RULES RELATING TO BILLS OF LADING FOR THE CARRIAGE OF GOODS BY SEA 5 United States The President having referred to the Senate for further consideration the international convention for the unification of certain rules relating to bills of lading for the carriage of goods by sea and protocol of signature thereto, signed on behalf of the United States at Brussels on June 23, 1925, the Senate, on May 6, 1937, passed a resolution in regard thereto as follows: "Resolved, (Two-thirds of the Senators present concurring therein), That the following understanding be added to and made a part of the resolution of ratification (with a reservation) of Executive E, Sixtyninth Congress, second session, (a convention for the unification of certain rules relating to bills of lading for the carriage of goods by sea and a protocol of signature thereto, signed on behalf of the United States at Brussels on June 23, 1925, with the understanding, to be made a part of such ratification, that, notwithstanding the provisions of article 4, section 5, and the first paragraph of article 9 of the convention, neither the carrier nor the ship shall in any event be or become liable within the jurisdiction of the United States of America for any loss or damage to or in connection with goods in an amount exceeding $500, lawful money of the United States of America, per package or unit unless the nature and value of goods have been declared by the shipper before shipment and inserted in the bill of lading;), agreed to on Monday, April 1 (Legislative Day, Wednesday, March 13), 1935: ""That should any conflict arise between the provisions of the Convention and the provisions of the Act of April 16, 1936, known as the "Carriage of Goods by Sea Act", the provisions of said Act shall prevail.'” In pursuance of the above resolution of advice and consent to ratification, the convention was ratified by the President on May 26, 1937, subject to the two understandings recited in this resolution. The ratification will be deposited with the Belgian Government. The convention provides that it shall enter into force for each ratifying country 6 months after the deposit of its instrument of ratification. 5 See Bulletins No. 79, April 1936, p. 19, and No. 91, April 1937, p. 18. AGREEMENT RELATING TO A UNIFORM SYSTEM OF MARITIME BUOYAGE, AND RULES ANNEXED THERETO 6 France According to a circular letter from the League of Nations dated April 26, 1937, the agreement relating to a uniform system of maritime buoyage and rules annexed thereto, opened for signature at Geneva on May 13, 1936, was signed by France on April 22, 1937. The signature is subject to ratification and is accompanied by a declaration making the signature valid for the overseas possessions of France with the exception of Indo-China. India-Monaco According to circular letters from the League of Nations dated May 14, 1937, the agreement for a uniform system of maritime buoyage and rules annexed thereto, opened for signature at Geneva on May 13, 1936, was signed on May 5, 1937, on behalf of India and Monaco. Both signatures are subject to ratification. The signature of India was accompanied with the following reservation: "In signing the present Agreement, subject to ratification, I declare that its acceptance by the Government of India will be conditional on its acceptance by the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and its application to Burma. I further declare that my signature is not binding in respect of the territories in India of any prince or chief under the suzerainty of His Majesty." Morocco (French)—Tunisia According to a circular letter from the League of Nations dated April 26, 1937, the agreement relating to a uniform system of maritime buoyage and rules annexed thereto, which was opened for signature at Geneva on May 13, 1936, was signed by France on April 22, 1937, on behalf of the French protectorate of Morocco and the French protectorate of Tunisia. The signature is subject to ratification. Latvia According to a circular letter dated May 14, 1937, from the League of Nations the Permanent Delegate of Latvia to the League of Nations signed, on May 8, 1937, on behalf of his Government, the agreement for a uniform system of maritime buoyage and rules annexed thereto, opened for signature at Geneva on May 13, 1936. "See Bulletin No. 88, January 1937, p. 15. Albania POSTAL UNIVERSAL POSTAL CONVENTION OF 19347 The Egyptian Minister at Washington informed the Secretary of State by a communication dated April 19, 1937, that the instrument of ratification by Albania of the universal postal convention, the arrangement concerning letters and parcels of declared value, the arrangement concerning parcel post, and the arrangement concerning postal money orders, all signed at Cairo on March 20, 1934, was deposited with the Egyptian Government on March 10, 1937. PROPERTY CONVENTION BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND MEXICO FOR THE RECOVERY OF STOLEN PROPERTY 8 On May 19, 1937, the President ratified the convention between. the United States and Mexico for the recovery and return of stolen or embezzled motor vehicles, trailers, airplanes, or component parts of any of them, signed on October 6, 1936. TELECOMMUNICATIONS FOURTH MEETING OF THE INTERNATIONAL RADIO CONSULTING COMMITTEE 9 The following delegation was appointed to represent this Government at the Fourth Meeting of the International Radio Consulting Committee, which convened at Bucharest, Rumania, on May 21, 1937: Delegates: Dr. J. H. Dellinger, Bureau of Standards, Department of Capt. Stanford C. Hooper, United States Navy, vice chairman Mr. E. K. Jett, Federal Communications Commission Technical Adviser: Col. J. Carroll Cone, Department of Commerce. Secretary: William Walter Schott, second secretary, American Legation, See Bulletin No. 88, January 1937, p. 16. 8 See Bulletin No. 88, January 1937, p. 17. See Bulletin No. 60, September 1934, p. 14. |