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Exchange of Notes (May 19 and July 14, 1947) between Canada and Switzerland extending the Principality of Liechtenstein the effects of the Treaty of Friendship between Great Britain and Switzerland, signed on September 6, 1855 and of the Additional Convention of March 30, 1914 [1947] CATSer 9 (14 July 1947)

E100595 - CTS 1947 No. 26

EXCHANGE OF NOTES BETWEEN CANADA AND SWITZERLAND EXTENDING TO THE PRINCIPALITY OF LIECHTENSTEIN THE EFFECTS OF THE TREATY OF FRIENDSHIP BETWEEN GREAT BRITAIN AND SWITZERLAND, SIGNED ON SEPTEMBER 6, 1855, AND OF THE ADDITIONAL CONVENTION OF MARCH 30, 1914

I

The Secretary of State for External Affairs to the Minister of Switzerland

DEPARTMENT OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

OTTAWA, May 19, 1947

No. 25A

Excellency,

As you are aware the Treaty of Friendship, Commerce and Reciprocal Establishment between the United Kingdom and Switzerland signed at Berne on September 6, 1855 is applicable to Canada. By virtue of a Convention Additional to this Treaty signed at London on March 30, 1914, further provision was made with regard to the application to certain parts of His Majesty’s Dominions, including Canada, of certain stipulations of the Treaty relating to the treatment of goods the growth, produce or manufacture of the territories of the one high contracting party in the territories of the other. In particular, this Convention provided that the high contracting parties could terminate Articles 9 and 10 of the Treaty with respect to any or all of the Dominions on giving twelve months’ notice to that effect.

In consequence of the Treaty of 1855, the products of Switzerland are granted most-favoured-nation treatment on importation into Canada. However, the products of the Principality of Liechtenstein (which became, under the Treaty between Switzerland and Liechtenstein of March 29, 1923, an integral part of the Swiss Customs Union) are subject to General Tariff rates on importation into Canada since Canada has not extended the provisions of the Treaty of Friendship of 1855 to Liechtenstein.

The Canadian Government is anxious to extend most-favoured-nation treatment in tariff matters to the Principality of Liechtenstein. To this end, it proposes, if your Government concurs, that this Note and your reply will be regarded as constituting an Agreement between Switzerland and Canada to extend, on a basis of reciprocity, the provisions of Articles 9 and 10 of the Treaty of Friendship of 1855 and the provisions of the Convention of 1914 to the Principality of Liechtenstein.

Accept, Excellency, the renewed assurances of my highest consideration.

L. B. Pearson

for the Secretary of State for External Affairs

II

The Chargé d’Affaires ad interim of Switzerland to the Secretary of State for External Affairs

(Translation)

LEGATION OF SWITZERLAND IN CANADA

OTTAWA, July 14th, 1947

No. 55

Sir,

I have the honour to refer to the note dated May 19th, 1947, which was handed to me by the Chief of the Economic Division, Department of External Affairs, in which the Canadian Government advises that it is willing to extend to the Principality of Liechtenstein with which Switzerland concluded a Customs Union on March 29th, 1923, the effects of the Treaty of Friendship, Commerce and Reciprocal Establishment between Switzerland and the United Kingdom, signed at Berne on September 6th, 1855, as well as the effects of the Convention Additional of March 30th, 1914.

The Federal Political Department has instructed me, upon the request of the Government of the Principality of Liechtenstein, to inform Your Excellency that the Government of the Principality agrees to the proposal contained in the note of the Department of External Affairs. I should, therefore, be obliged if you would kindly consider the said note and my reply of today as constituting an agreement between Switzerland and Canada to extend to the Principality of Liechtenstein the benefits of the Anglo-Swiss Treaty of 1855 and of the Convention of 1914. This Agreement will result particularly in the Principality benefiting from the most-favoured-nation clause for the importation into Canada of the products of Liechtenstein.

Accept, Sir, the assurances of my high consideration.

R. Forcart

Chargé d’Affaires a.i.