882.01 Foreign Control/249: Telegram
The Consul at Geneva (Gilbert) to the Acting Secretary of State
[Received May 10—12:50 p.m.]
184. From Reber. I have been shown a copy of Ryding’s report concerning his trip on the Kru Coast which bears out the allegations of cruel and oppressive treatment of the natives. The Department has doubtless received a summary of this report from Mr. Mitchell.38
In discussing how this report should be brought before the Committee today with the British we reached the conclusion that it might be well for the four Governments interested, namely, United States, Great Britain, France and Germany to submit a joint memorandum to the Committee summarizing the more important findings of this report. This would center more attention upon the situation than if the report which is a long opinion were to be circulated in toto. Should the Department agree to this method we will summarize the report here and present it jointly.
Should the French and Germans, whose representatives are not today in town, be adverse to this procedure it might be well for the British and ourselves to submit similar but not identic memoranda inasmuch as Ryding’s trip may be said to have been made at the instigation of the three Governments interested. I do not foresee any difficulty in gaining the French or German acceptance of this proposal but as time is short merely suggest this is a possible alternative procedure.
It is hoped to have this memorandum ready for presentation by Thursday if the Department concurs in this action. [Reber.]