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No. 9. Note to the United States Charge d'Affaires in London of 2nd June, 1928. Sir, Foreign Office, 2nd June, 1928. In the note which Mr. Houghton was so good as to address to me on the 22nd May last, he extended on behalf of the Government of the United States an invitation to His Majesty's Government in the Commonwealth of Australia to participate individually and as an original signatory in the treaty for the renunciation of war which is now under consideration. 2. I now have the honour to inform you that His Majesty's Government in the Commonwealth of Australia have received with appreciation the invitation to participate as an original party in the treaty for the renunciation of war which has been proposed by the Government of the United States of America. His Majesty's Government in the Commonwealth of Australia have carefully and sympathetically examined the draft treaty submitted to them together with the correspondence that has so far been exchanged between the interested Governments. They believe that a treaty such as that proposed would be a further material safeguard to the peace of the world, and they will be happy to co-operate to the fullest extent in its successful conclusion. I have, &c., Austen Chamberlain.

No. 10. Note to the United States Charge d'Affaires in London of 11th June, 1928. Sir, Foreign Office, 11th June, 1928. In the note which Mr. Houghton was so good as to address to me on the 22nd May, he extended, on behalf of the Government of the United States, an invitation to the Government of India to participate individually and as an original signatory in the treaty for the renunciation of war which is now under consideration. 2. I now have the honour to inform you that the Government of India have requested that an expression of their warm thanks may be conveyed to the United States Government for this invitation, which they are happy to accept. I have the honour to add that the Government of India desire to associate themselves with the note which I had the honour to address to Mr. Houghton on the 19th ultimo. I have, &c., Austen Chamberlain.

No. 11. Note to the United States Charge d' Affaires in London of 15th June, 1928. Sir, Foreign Office, 15th June, 1928. With reference to the note which Mr. Houghton was so good as to address to me on the 22nd May conveying an invitation to His Majesty's Government in the Union of South Africa to become an original party to the proposed treaty for the renunciation of war, I have the honour to inform you that the following message has been received by telegraph from General Hertzog, Minister of External Affairs of the Union of South Africa, for communication to you : — " Through the good offices of His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom the contents of the note addressed by Your Excellency to His Excellency the British Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs on the 22nd May were duly conveyed to me. On behalf of His Majesty's Government in the Union of South Africa I beg to state that the cordial invitation of the Government of the United States extended to His Majesty's Government in the Union of South Africa to participate individually and as an original signatory in the treaty for the renunciation of war which the United States Government proposed to various Governments on the 13th April last, is highly appreciated and that His Majesty's Government in the Union of South Africa will gladly take part therein, as invited, together with the other Governments whose participation in the proposed treaty was invited in the first instance. " In expressing their willingness to be a party to the proposed treaty the Government of the Union of South Africa take it for granted : — " (a) That it is not intended to deprive any party to the proposed treaty of its natural right of legitimate self-defence; " (b) That a violation by any one of the parties of any of the provisions of the proposed treaty will free other parties from obligation to observe its terms in respect of the party committing such violation ; and " (c) That provision will be made for rendering it quite clear that it is not intended that the Union of South Africa, by becoming a party to the proposed treaty, would be precluded from fulfilling, as a member of the League of Nations, its obligations towards other members thereof under the provisions of the Covenant of the League." I have, &c., (For the Secretary of State), R. L. Craigie.

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