462.00 R 29/1: Telegram
The Ambassador in France (Wallace) to the Secretary of State
[Received January 12—2:47 a.m.]
105. R–206. For Department and Davis.55
1st. Following minutes of Conference of American, British, French, Italian, and Belgian delegates Organization Committee, Reparation Commission, held January 9:
Loucheur, speaking [in] his own name and in that of the delegates of Great Britain, Italy and Belgium asked Mr. Rathbone56 if hope must be abandoned of seeing the United States take its seat officially on the Reparation Commission before it had ratified the treaty.
Mr. Rathbone declared that he could not give a definite reply for the present. It was impossible for the American delegation to assist officially at the [this] date of [in] Commission’s meetings but it was possible that before ratification took place or even if ratification did not take place the United States Government might authorize its official representation.
Monsieur Loucheur replied that in that case without discussing this point further given Mr. Rathbone’s reply and speaking in the [Page 347] name of all his colleagues lie extended through Mr. Rathbone to the American delegation an invitation to assist unofficially, although in the present circumstances it could not vote, at all meetings of the Commission, and to take part in all its discussions. Mr. Rathbone thanked Monsieur Loucheur and his colleagues for the invitation extended, declared that he was authorized to accept it and added that his country would certainly appreciate this courtesy.
Monsieur Loucheur expressed the hope that ratification of the treaty would soon permit the United States to be represented officially.
Mr. Rathbone replied that he was sure that the Government and the people shared this hope.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- Rathbone
- Wallace