550.S1 Economic Commission/86: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Consul at Geneva (Gilbert)
95. Your 190, September 15, 9 p.m.4 and 202, September 28, 5 p.m. The Department regrets the extremely short notice given by Stoppani [Page 777] of the intended meeting to consider the question of a possible international copper agreement. It nevertheless welcomes the fact that the subject is to be considered and believes it advisable that there be an American present.
You are instructed to attend the meeting tomorrow morning and authorized to make clear that the American Government is prepared to support the general idea of an international agreement for the regulation of the production and world trade of copper.
Beyond this general statement make it clear that you have no instructions to present the American point of view. Special care should be taken to evade at this stage any question that may come up concerning the American domestic market. Furthermore as regards all questions as to what the form and terms of the agreement might be, please make clear your lack of instructions and consult the Department.
This Government would welcome a decision on the part of the group to undertake a thorough study of the subject, and is willing to communicate its attitude to the other interested governments.
If the committee should reach this decision the Department would immediately prepare the brief referred to in the earlier cables.
- Not printed.↩