765.84/129: Telegram (part air)

The Consul at Geneva (Gilbert) to the Secretary of State

28. I learn that following considerable pressure on the Italians by the British and the French an arrangement was reached in the Italian-Abyssinian affair whereby both sides communicated to the League letters stating that moved by spirit of conciliation they were prepared to seek a settlement in conformity with the “spirit” of the Italo-Abyssinian Treaty of Friendship of 19287 and with article 5 of that treaty and that they engaged themselves to take steps to avoid further incidents.

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The Council in private session this afternoon took note of these letters and decided to postpone discussion of Abyssinia’s appeal until its next session.8

I understand that negotiations are to begin immediately with a view to setting up of a body of conciliation or arbitration under article 5 of the above mentioned treaty.

Gilbert
  1. Treaty signed August 2, 1928, League of Nations Treaty Series, vol. xciv, p. 419; by article 5, “Both Governments undertake to submit to a procedure of conciliation and arbitration disputes which may arise between them and which it may not have been possible to settle by ordinary diplomatic methods….”
  2. See also League of Nations, Official Journal, February 1935, pp. 162–163.