763.72119/8426: Telegram
The Acting Secretary of State to the Ambassador in France (Wallace)
9434. For Rathbone from Davis. Treasury R–133.
Your R–164.17 I think my R–128 will clear up to your satisfaction the policy to be followed by you in respect to the permanent Reparations Commission. It is intended that you shall of course continue acting as heretofore on Organization Committee, and that upon the organization of the permanent Reparations Commission and until the United States takes definite action in respect to the treaty or until further notice you shall, with the approval of the other Governments concerned, attend the meetings of the Commission unofficially. As the prime object of your attending those meetings will be to protect the interests of the United States, it will naturally be necessary for you, in order to do so, to participate unofficially in the discussions of any questions arising which concern the United States. The [Page 31] internal organization of the Commission and its methods of dealing with the various problems would have considerable bearing on a constructive handling of the various problems, and as any actions of the Commission which might be unsound from a financial and economic standpoint would seriously affect the United States, you should use your best endeavors in advocating the adoption of sound constructive policies. Norman H. Davis, Assistant Secretary of the Treasury.
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