TRADE AGREEMENT (GREECE).

No. 28 of 1940.

An Act to approve an Agreement between the Government of the Commonwealth of Australia and the Government of the Kingdom of Greece.

[Assented to 1st June, 1940.]

BE it enacted by the King’s Most Excellent Majesty, the Senate, and the House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Australia, as follows:—

Short title.

1.  This Act may be cited as the Trade Agreement (Greece) Act 1940.

Commencement

2.  This Act shall come into operation on a date to be fixed by Proclamation.

Approval of Agreement.

3.  The Agreement entered into between His Majesty’s Government in the Commonwealth of Australia and the Government of the Kingdom of Greece (as set out in the Note from the Minister of State for Trade and Customs of the Commonwealth of Australia to His Hellenic Majesty’s Consul-General in Australia, and the Note from the said Consul-General to the Prime Minister of the Commonwealth of Australia, copies of which Notes are set forth in the Schedule to this Act) is hereby approved.

THE SCHEDULE.                                                Section 3.

EXCHANGE OF NOTES BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT OF THE COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA AND THE GOVERNMENT OF THE KINGDOM OF GREECE.

No. 1.

Minister of State for Trade and Customs of the Commonwealth of Australia to His Hellenic Majesty’s Consul-General in Australia.

Commonwealth of Australia.

Commonwealth Arms.

Minister for Trade and Customs,

Canberra, A.C.T.,

29th February, 1940.

Sir,

I have the honour to inform you that the Government of the Commonwealth of Australia is prepared to enter into an Agreement with the Government of the Kingdom of Greece in the following terms:—

1. Goods the produce or manufacture of Greece, on their importation into Australia, shall receive treatment not less favourable than that accorded to like goods the produce or manufacture of the most-favoured-foreign country.

2. Goods the produce or manufacture of Australia, on their importation into Greece, shall receive treatment not less favourable than that accorded to like goods the produce or manufacture of the most-favoured-foreign country.

3. It shall be understood that the term “foreign country” in relation to the Commonwealth of Australia means a country not under the sovereignty of His Majesty the King of Great Britain, Ireland, and the British Dominions beyond the Seas, Emperor of India, nor under His Majesty’s suzerainty, protection or mandate.

I shall be obliged if you will inform me whether the Government of the Kingdom of Greece agree to the above-mentioned proposals. If so, I suggest that the present Note and your Note in reply be regarded as constituting an Agreement between our two Governments having effect from a date to be fixed by mutual arrangement. I suggest further that the Agreement shall remain in force for a period of one year. If neither Government has notified the other three months before the expiration of the

The Schedule—continued.

above-mentioned period of one year of its intention to terminate the Agreement it shall continue in force until the expiration of three months from the date on which either of the two Governments shall have given notice to the other of its intention to terminate the Agreement.

I have the honour to be,

Sir

Your obedient servant,

(Sgd.) Robert G. Menzies,

Minister of State for Trade and Customs.

Emil C. Vrisakis Esq.,

Consul-General of Greece,

Royal Consulate General of Greece in Australia,

10 Martin-place,

Sydney, N.S.W.

No. 2.

His Hellenic Majesty’s Consul-General in Australia to the Prime Minister of the Commonwealth of Australia.

Royal Consulate General of Greece

in Australia.

Sydney, 7th March, 1940.

Challis House,

10 Martin Place.

No. 196.                                                                                                             Phone BW 6926.

Sir,

I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your Note of 29th February, 1940, and to inform you that the Government of the Kingdom of Greece is willing to enter into an agreement with the Government of the Commonwealth of Australia in the terms set forth therein, viz.:—

1. Goods the produce or manufacture of Greece, on their importation into Australia, shall receive treatment not less favourable than that accorded to like goods the produce or manufacture of the most-favoured-foreign country.

2. Goods the produce or manufacture of Australia, on their importation into Greece, shall receive treatment not less favourable than that accorded to like goods the produce or manufacture of the most-favoured-foreign country.

3. It shall be understood that the term “foreign country” in relation to the Commonwealth of Australia means a country not under the sovereignty of His Majesty the King of Great Britain, Ireland, and the British Dominions beyond the Seas, Emperor of India, nor under His Majesty’s suzerainty, protection or mandate.

In accordance with the suggestion contained in the last paragraph of your Note under reply, the present exchange of Notes will be regarded as constituting an agreement between the two Governments having effect from a date to be fixed by mutual arrangement. The Agreement shall remain in force for a period of one year. If neither Government has notified the other three months before the expiration of the above-mentioned period of one year of its intention to terminate the Agreement it shall continue in force until the expiration of three months from the date on which either of the two Governments shall have given notice to the other of its intention to terminate the Agreement.

I have the honour to be,

Sir,

Your obedient servant,

(Sgd.) E. C. Vrisakis,

Consul-General of Greece.

The Rt. Hon. R. G. Menzies, K.C. M.P.,

Prime Minister of the Commonwealth of Australia,

Canberra, A.C.T.