500.A16/72: Telegram
The Minister in Switzerland (Wilson) to the Secretary of State
[Received 7 p.m.]
97. Department’s 90, October 4, 7 p.m. I have inquired at League Secretariat whether any developments toward ending the deadlock have taken place between the last meeting of the Special Commission on private manufacture and the adoption of the resolution to summon a session of the Commission on December 5. I have not been able to find any evidence that the situation has been altered. Some vaguely optimistic remarks by the delegates in the Third Committee are the utmost that can be shown.
As it seems very improbable that any tangible results will come from the approaching meeting, and as it seems that the Commission is summoned only to satisfy those members of the League who demand continuance of action on disarmament and closely related questions in order to appease public opinion at home and to maintain prestige of the League, the Department may wish to consider advisability of program somewhat as follows:
In most courteous language inform Secretary General that having received summons to the coming meeting we have given careful thought to our own position in reference to Committee’s work; that we have taken note of fact that great majority of States represented desire some form of licensing private manufacture and that this, for reasons which have been made clear in the Commission, cannot be accepted by this Government; that the statement of our position on publicity has been made so clear and definite that all members of the Commission are familiar with it; that in the present status of the negotiations, therefore, we fear that our presence might impede achievement of some form of agreement among the other delegations; that we are animated by most earnest desire that Commission work out some constructive solution; and that if such an agreement be reached, we shall study it with deepest interest and give careful consideration as to adherence thereto in conformity with our own special position as already explained in the Commission.
The Department will be cognizant, of course, of fact that if we follow course suggested above we shall run a certain amount of risk that attempt may be made to impute a failure on part of Commission to our; nonparticipation. This consideration would be of greatest importance if it concerned a political gathering, but Department may feel that it carries less weight when question is one of a technical meeting.