Numerous interpretative notes were exchanged by the Powers prior to signature of the General Pact for the Renunciation of War on August 27, 1928. Secretary Kellogg was reported to have said on August 8 that these interpretations “are in no way a part of the pact and can not be considered reservations. The interpretations will not be deposited with the text of the treaty.” It has, however, been asserted that “the interpretations and declarations, made in the diplomatic correspondence before the signature of the treaty, and either agreed to or not dissented from, are just as binding and just as much within the meaning of the treaty as if they were written into the treaty text.” This obviously denies any importance to the distinction between interpretative notes and reservations implied in Secretary Kellogg’s statement.
