574.D1/103: Telegram
The Ambassador in Great Britain (Davis) to the Secretary of State
[Received 10 p.m.]
1192. Department’s 774, July 23rd, 6 p.m. In response to invitation extended to British Government on July 26th, Foreign Office has communicated to me under date of August 6th, following note.
“In reply to Your Excellency’s note number 436 of the 26th, ultimo, I have the honor to state that His Majesty’s Government have much pleasure in arranging for representatives to be sent to the Preliminary Conference on Communications to be held at Washington on September 15th, next. It will, however, be necessary that any agreements which may be negotiated should as far as the British Empire is concerned be submitted for approval by the respective Governments prior to formal signature and ratification.
The British delegation will be composed as follows: Mr. F. J. Brown, C.B.E., of the General Postoffice, senior delegate, assisted by Mr. F. W. Phillips of the same department; Mr. R. A. C. Sperling of the Foreign Office; Lieutenant Colonel B. C. Gardiner, C.B., assisted by Commander L. Robinson, O.B.E., R.N.; Brigadier General A. B. R. Hildebrand, C.B., C.M.G., D.S.O., assisted by Lieutenant Colonel R. J. F. Trew, O.B.E., R.E., and Captain Eccleston [Echevarri?]; Mr. L. C. Christie of the Canadian Department of External Affairs representing the Dominion of Canada. Owing to the postponement of the Preliminary Conference His Majesty’s Government regret that they do not see their way to agreeing to the meeting of the general congress at so early a date as November 15th, which would not allow sufficient time for the return of the representatives from Washington and the consideration of the results of the Preliminary Conference.
[Page 128]His Majesty’s Government would therefore suggest that the date of the General Congress should be determined by agreement at the conclusion of the meetings of the Preliminary Conference.”