been informed as to the views of the Government of Great Britain or of the Governments of other foreign countries in regard to this suggestion. The agenda, so far as the Government of the United States is now informed, consists, therefore, of the subjects originally proposed by the British Government, listed on the third page of this instruction, which are as follows: 1 Subdivision of ships; Life-saving appliances; Fire-extinguishing appliances; Collision regulations, with the possible addition of the subject of stability as was suggested by the United States. The technical committees have now made and filed their final reports, which are on the following subjects: 1. Subdivison of ships; 2. Life-saving appliances; 3. Fire-extinguishing appliances; 4. Wireless telegraphy; 5. Ice patrol and derelict destruction; 6. Meteorological reports; 7. Rules of the road. Copies of each of these reports are herewith 2 transmitted to you for your information and for your guidance in your capacity as delegates on the part of the United States. Participation in the Conference on the part of the United States was authorized by Public Resolution No. 70, 70th Congress, 2nd Session, entitled Joint Resolution Providing for the participation by the United States in the International Conference for the Revision of the Convention of 1914 for the Safety of Life at Sea, approved December 7, 1928, which is as follows: Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled. That the sum of $100,000, or so much thereof as may be necessary, is hereby authorized to be appropriated for the expenses of participation by the United States in the International Conference for the Revision of the Convention of 1914 for the Safety of Life at Sea, to be held in London, England, in 1929, including travel and subsistence or per diem in lieu of subsistence (notwithstanding the provisions of any other Act), compensation of employees, stenographic and other services by contract if deemed necessary, rent of offices, purchase of necessary books and documents, printing and binding, printing of official visiting cards, and such other expenses as may be authorized by the Secretary of State, and by a provision in Public No. 1034, 70th Congress, 2nd Session, being an act entitled an Act making appropriations to supply urgent 1 Ante, p. 16. 2 Not printed. deficiencies . . . for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1929, and for other purposes, approved March 4, 1929, which is as follows: International Conference for the Safety of Life at Sea: For the expenses of participation by the United States in the International Conference for the Revision of the Convention of 1914 for the Safety of Life at Sea, as authorized by Public Resolution Numbered 70, approved December 7, 1928, including travel and subsistence or per diem in lieu of subsistence (notwithstanding the provisions of any other Act), compensation of employees, stenographic and other services by contract if deemed necessary, rent of offices, purchase of necessary books and documents, printing and binding, printing of official visiting cards, and such other expenses as may be authorized by the Secretary of State, $90,000, to remain available until June 30, 1930. The formal invitation to the Government of the United States to send representatives to the Conference was contained in a note of January 21, 1929, to the Secretary of State from the British Ambassador, in which it was stated that the Conference would convene in London on April 16, next. This invitation was accepted on behalf of the Government of the United States by the Secretary of State in a note of February 21, 1929, to the British Ambassador. It is understood that the British Government also extended invitations to the several British Dominions, India, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, Norway, Russia, Spain and Sweden, and to the League of Nations Advisory and Technical Committee for Communications and Transit, ad audiendum. It is believed that the American delegation is in a well-fortified position in respect of the work of the Conference. A thorough study of the situation has been made in the preparatory work. Concrete proposals which have the approval of all the American interests concerned, including the shipping and shipbuilding industries have been made in the reports of the technical committees. Congress has passed the Load Line Bill, which furnishes the necessary legislative authority for establishing standards of safety in the loading of vessels. The United States will not, therefore, be exposed to the criticism heretofore sometimes made, of urging high standards and of subsequently not putting into effect such standards as were adopted. The recent loss of the steamship Vestris has directed public attention to and has crystallized public opinion on the necessity for a high standard for safety at sea. The high standards of safety required of transportation facilities in the United States fortify the delegation in advocating high standards of safety at sea. To obtain acceptance of the high standards of the proposals brought forward in the reports of the technical committees will, it is believed, require determined and combined effort on the part of the American delegation. Decisions of the delegation should follow, as far as practicable, the recommendations agreed to in the technical reports. Proposals leading to standards less high than the recommendations should be given most careful consideration and the delegation should not agree to them unless there is strong reason for so doing. Unanimity of view and of action on the part of the delegates is essential. In order that the influence of the American delegation may be effective, the individual delegates should be guided and abide by the majority decisions of the delegation, and individual opinions at variance with the delegation's decisions should not be expressed. To assure that the American proposals are couched in well-chosen words which convey the exact meaning intended, it would appear that, except in informal committee discussions, such proposals, so far as practicable, should be prepared in advance of the occasion on which they will be used. Important questions of policy and general principle not covered by the reports of the committees or the instructions to the delegation should be determined by vote of the delegation, or be made the subject of a request to the Department for instructions. The delegation has the responsibilities: (1) to uphold the prestige and dignity of the Government of the United States; (2) to obtain the highest practicable standard of safety at sea for American nationals traveling in ships flying the flags of foreign nations; and (3) to obtain an international standard commensurate with the high standard of safety now being constructed into American vessels, in order that these vessels may not suffer in commercial competition with foreign competitors. In a letter of March 14, 1929, to the Chairman of the delegation, the President wrote: In connection with the International Conference for the revision of the convention for safety of life at sea, which is to convene in London on 16 April, it is my desire that the American delegation urge the international acceptance of the highest practicable standards in the various fields which affect the safety of lives of American citizens and of American vessels at sea. This is a matter of great importance to the shipping industry in this country, which is now entering a new phase of development, and is a matter of even greater importance to American citizens who are engaging in ocean voyages in increasing numbers. The recommendations which have been made by the technical committees organized by the Department of Commerce constitute, I am advised, a substantial basis for proposals by the United States at the forthcoming conference, and can be urged with the full assurance that the administration will do all in its power to place such standards into full effect in the event that they are incorporated in an international agreement. You will consider that provision should be made in the Convention stipulating for subsequent conferences to consider improvements which may be suggested by invention or with reference to the adop tion of such improvements by individual nations before they can be made a matter of conventional agreement. If you deem it advisable to do so, you are authorized to arrange for preliminary and informal consultation with your colleagues of other nations, in order that those standards in regard to safety of life at sea which are held in common may be supported, if possible, with the weight which would naturally result from united effort. It has been observed that the London treaty of 1914 is in the French language only. At the Conference for the Limitation of Armament held at Washington in the winter of 1921-22, both French and English were made official languages of the Conference and the treaties adopted were signed in the two languages. The treaties signed at the Peace Conference at Paris likewise were signed in English as well as French. Moreover, French and English were made the official languages of the League of Nations, and it is my understanding that all international acts signed under the auspices of the League are in the two languages. It would seem to be desirable that English as well as French should be the official language of the Conference on Safety of Life at Sea, not only as a compliment to the British Government, in whose territory the Conference is held, but also because of the richness of the English language in commercial and nautical terminology. For the same reasons it is believed that any convention or other instrument signed at the Conference should be signed in English as well as in French. As, however, the Conference will be held at London, it would seem to be more appropriate for the British delegates to make proposals in regard to this matter. You may confer with them informally concerning it, and should they propose to the Conference the adoption of English as an official language of the Conference, you will give the proposal your support. You will be assisted in your work at the Conference by the following technical assistants: Lieutenant Commander E. L. Cochrane Commander C. M. Austin Captain W. E. Griffith Mr. A. J. Smith Mr. J. F. MacMillan Mr. David Arnott Mr. Edgar B. Calvert Lieutenant E. M. Webster Mr. Vinton Chapin, Foreign Service Officer, has been detailed from the State Department as Secretary to the delegation. There is enclosed the President's instrument conferring upon you, jointly and severally, plenary powers to negotiate, conclude and sign a convention revising the Convention of 1914 for the safety of life at sea. This instrument should be deposited with the Secretariat of the Conference, or the Committee on Credentials, whichever may be the procedure adopted. Doubtless questions which are not definitely covered in the reports of the technical committees or in these instructions will arise at the Conference, both in regard to technical subjects and in regard to matters of policy. In respect of the decisions to be made and the action to be taken on such questions, reliance is placed to the fullest extent on the experience and judgment of the delegation. While it is not desired to discourage the delegation from requesting specific instructions from the Government when such instructions are necessary, it is desired that requests for instructions other than requests merely for information which the delegation may not have in its. possession should, in order to avoid the delay incident to communication between the delegation and the Government, be limited as much as possible. Expressing the hope that your mission and its duties may be pleasant, and the results gratifying to yourselves, your colleagues and the Government and people of the United States, |