Imperial Valley press., 1927-03-22
May LII 7
EMBARGO
ON ARMS
Agreement to Expire On
March %, According to
Statement.
IN FORCE ONE YEAR
Believe Action Prompted
By Mexican Refusal to
Sign Commercial Pact.

WASHINGTON, March 22.-The
State Department announced today
it had served notice on Mexico ter
minating the Anti Smuggling Treaty
between the two countries.
The notice was given in Mexico
City last night.
Officials here today refused to
say whether this action is fore
runner to possible lifting of the
American embargo on arms ship
ments to Mexico.
The treaty, signed December %
1925, became effective March %
1926, remaining in force for on.
year, and thereafter until notice o!
termination was given.
The State Department announced:
"Upon due consideration, the
government has concluded to term
mate the treaty at the expiration
of the year (March %, 1920 and
has accordingly given the appropri.
ate notice TO the government of
Mexico.
at may be pointed out in this
connection that the United States
has no commercial treaties (sinee
1892 with Mexico, and that i'll the
circumstances it is not deemed ad
visable to continue in effect an ar
rangement which in certain contin-
gencies binds the United States to
cooperation for the enforcement OF
laws or dccrees relating to the i'm
portation of commodities of all
sorts into another country with
which this government has no ar
rangement, by treaty, or otherwise,
safeguarding American commerce
against possible discrimination.
"The convention between the
United States and Mexico to pre-
vent smuggling and for certain
other objects was signed December
%. 1925, ratified March II, 1926.
and proclaimed March Is, 1926. IL
went into effect, so far as the
United States was concerned upon
March 2S, 1926. BY its terms, the
convention was to remain III force
for one wear, upon the expiration
of which period, if no notice of %
desire to terminate it had been CIV
en- by either party, it was to con'
tinuc in force until 30 days after
either party should give notice of
termination.
After the treaty abrogation was
announced, Secretary of State hel-
logp went to the White House to
attend the cabinet meeting, whore,
il was understood, the Mexican
American situation was discussed at
length.
Three weeks ego the United Press
reported exclusively that the state
department was seriously consider
ing renouncing the smuggling
treaty. At that time, it was point
ed out that any possible action by
this government lifting the Ameri-
can embargo on arms shipments TO
Mexico could not be made effee-
tive so long as the anti-smugghng
treaty remained in force.
Under the smuggling treaty it
would be necessary for this govern
ment to report to the Mexican gov
ernment on private arms shipments
legally excluded from Mexico, thus
permitting Mexican federal border
authorities 10 seize arms destined
for counter revolutionary activities.
The treaty was negotiated to pre-
vent smuggling of liquor, aliens,
narcotics and other contraband mer-
chandise, and in some respects was
similar to the liquor treaties nego.
tiated with Canada and European
maritime nations by Assistant
Secretary of the Treasury Lincoln
Andrews.
The state department announce
ment intimatcd its action was tax
en- because Mexico had refused to
negotiate a commercial treaty.