dodis.ch/44360

La Légation britannique à Berne au Département politique1

His Britannic Majesty’s Legation present their compliments to the Swiss Political Department and have the honour to transmit to the Department herewith copies of a Convention and Protocol relating to the control of the Arms Traffic signed by the Principal Allied and Associated Powers at Paris on the 10th September.2

It will be observed that the convention provides, inter alia, that the signatories may only export arms and munitions of war to other signatories, subject to the provisions of the conventions as regards control and re-export.

All Powers, members of the League of Nations, will in due course be invited to adhere, but no such invitation can be issued until the convention comes into force, that is to say, has been ratified.

Acting on the instructions of His Britannic Majesty’s Government, the Legation have the honour to inform the Political Department that, in order to comply with the obligation contained in the protocol and to avoid delay in the execution of contracts which would be legitimate were the convention in force, His Majesty’s Government will require a previous guarantee from any government wishing to acquire war material from the United Kingdom that they will adhere to the convention when invited so to do and will in the meantime observe its conditions3.