IOR/L/PS/10/674

The papers in this volume relate to the Arms Traffic Convention (1919).

The papers include: The final text of the Arms Traffic Convention signed at Saint-Germain-en-Laye, containing the names of the signatory states, 10 September-23 October 1919; the opinions of the French and British governments about the negotiations over the export of arms as opposed to the actual export of arms, 12-24 October 1919; the sale of a large stock of arms by the United States of America to the Spanish Government, 23 September-3 December 1919; the transportation of arms between different parts of the British Empire, 29 October 1919-20 May 1920; the League of Nations and admission of neutral states to the Convention, 23 October 1919-21 January 1920; the supply of munitions to Tibet, Afghanistan and Nepal, 29 October 1919-25 May 1920; the Government of France’s commitment to the implementation of the Convention, 11 September 1919; the status of unarmed aircraft under the Convention, 20 November 1919-23 February 1920; the status of warships from which all armaments have been removed, 30 December 1919; the specific limits for ‘effective man-killing weapons’ and other firearms, 6 June 1919-3 February 1920; the meaning of the term ‘export’ in the Arms Traffic Convention, 12 March 1920; the United States’ rejection of the protocol attached to the Convention as unconstitutional, and its consequent inability to prevent private exporters from shipping arms to countries outside it, 6-18 March 1920; the position of Britain and the United States on arms sales to non-signatories, 9 February-15 May 1920; the Persian Government’s intention to adhere to the Convention, 16 April 1920; the notification of signatories about the intention of non-signatories to join the Convention, 20 January-15 June 1920; the Government of Netherlands’ adherence to the Convention, 12-27 May 1920; a request from the Political Resident in Aden for a copy of the Convention, 26 May-24 July 1920; the modification of the additional protocol attached to the Convention, 12 May-2 September 1920; the application of the Convention to the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea, 26 August 1919-9 December 1920; the prohibition on the export of arms and ammunition of every kind to China, 22-29 October 1920; and the ability of the Royal Navy to take action in the waters of Persia and Muscat, 1 November 1920-20 January 1921.

The correspondence in the volume is primarily between the Under-Secretary of State, Foreign Office; Under-Secretary of State, India Office; Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs; HM Ambassador to France; HM Ambassador to Japan; HM Ambassador to Belgium; British Minister in Tehran; Resident Naval Officer, Aden Division; Political Resident, Aden; and Secretary of the Admiralty.