462.00R296/4345a: Telegram

The Acting Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Belgium (Gibson)

[Paraphrase]

43. The Committee of Experts which is called for under our accord with France45 will probably meet on July 16. We hope that the meeting will take place in London. It is the President’s sincere wish that you represent the American Government. You will recognize that your position must be essentially that of an observer, owing to the fact that the majority of the questions to be discussed will deal with the application of the Hague Agreements46 and the Dawes [Young] Plan,47 to which we are not signatory. However, the President feels that it is [Page 165] vital to have someone there who knows about the negotiations up to this point48 and who will make sure that the decisions that are reached are clearly within the spirit of the original American proposal.49 Livesey50 will be sent by the first boat to assist you. I think you have already seen all the telegrams exchanged with Paris, and Livesey will bring with him all the necessary documents, figures, etc. It is most probable that the British will try to persuade the French to extend the period for the repayment of the suspended annuities. We should welcome this rather than otherwise. However, in view of our agreement with France, this is a discussion in which obviously we can take no part. From time to time we shall give you our ideas on particular questions and you should feel free to consult the Department.

Since I wrote the above I have learned that you may not be able to take on this job because of your health. If you cannot do it we shall understand, but I sincerely hope that you will be able to. Please telegraph your decision urgently.51

Castle
  1. Ante, p. 162.
  2. Great Britain, Cmd. 3484, Miscellaneous No. 4 (1930): Agreements Concluded at the Hague Conference, January 1930.
  3. See Great Britain, Cmd. 3343 (1929): Report of the Committee of Experts on Reparations.
  4. See pp. 42 ff.
  5. For text of President Hoover’s proposal, see telegram No. 262, June 20, 8 p.m., to the Ambassador in France, p. 33.
  6. Frederick Livesey, Assistant Economic Adviser, Department of State.
  7. Mr. Gibson telegraphed his reply accepting the assignment on July 9 (462.00R296/4346).