500.C1113/74
The Consul at Geneva (Gilbert) to the Secretary of State
[Received September 22.]
Sir: I have the honor to refer to my despatch No. 1815 Political of August 17 and to my telegram No. 325 of September 9, 10 a.m.,10 concerning preparatory work in the Disarmament Section of the Secretariat against the possibility of the disarmament question being raised in the forthcoming Assembly.
In this regard, there is enclosed a copy of a draft statement11 prepared in the Disarmament Section for delivery by the President of the Third Committee in case the disarmament matter is raised in the Assembly and referred to the Third Committee. This draft, which is almost entirely historical, follows along the lines of Mr. Field’s memorandum transmitted with my despatch under reference.
There is likewise enclosed a copy of a memorandum, in French, submitted by Mr. Friis of the Disarmament Section to Mr. Aghnides, as well as an English translation thereof prepared in the Consulate.11 In this memorandum Mr. Friis refers to a request that he prepare a draft resolution on disarmament, describes the views of various governments, as expressed in recent communications on League reform, regarding consideration of disarmament in the forthcoming Assembly and advises against attempting to prepare a draft resolution at that time (September 3). I understand, however, that such a resolution has since been prepared, but I have been unable as yet to obtain a copy.
In amplification of the information conveyed in my telegram under reference, I understand that Mr. Aghnides favors a controlled and [Page 12] limited discussion of specific subjects (such as arms manufacture and trade); that he regards it as inevitable that the question should come up and wishes the Secretariat to be prepared to give such guidance as it can to keep the discussion on safe and constructive grounds. His view is believed to be based in part on an expectation (possibly acquired during conversations while attending the Montreux Conference13 as Secretary-General) that the French Government is planning to submit a memorandum containing new suggestions with respect to arms manufacture and trade. I have reason to believe that during a recent visit to Paris Mr. Aghnides further discussed this issue with officials there, and urged them to take account of practical possibilities and not submit another unrealizable all-or-nothing plan designed purely for home effect.
Several members of the Disarmament Section, in particular the British member, are understood to question the wisdom of any discussion of armaments at the Assembly. In their view, the Conference has been inactive since April 1935 pending an improvement in the general political situation; there has been no improvement which would justify resumption at this time; on the contrary, a new effort would be bound to lead to failure and still further undermine the League’s prestige. Moreover, it would be difficult to keep the discussion within constructive limits; and embarrassing issues would almost certainly arise, such as the question of German or Russian armaments or that of the rearmament of Austria, Hungary, and Bulgaria. The British member is particularly opposed to any intervention of the League with respect to the naval negotiations now being conducted by Great Britain. He is being supported in this by Mr. Field.
A new element has been introduced as a result of the replies of several governments, notably those of the Scandinavian states, on the question of League reform. These contain more or less detailed suggestions respecting disarmament; and some League officials believe that the submission of these replies to the Assembly will automatically raise the disarmament question. They feel that the draft prepared by the Disarmament Section is to that extent already superseded.
As the Department is aware, disarmament is not included on the published agenda of the Assembly. It would, therefore, have to be raised at a plenary session by one or more delegations before the question of reference to the Third Committee could arise.
It is requested that the enclosures to this despatch be treated as strictly confidential.
Respectfully yours,
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- Held June 22–July 20, 1936; see vol. iii, pp. 503 ff.↩