Office of the Historian

462.00 R 29/161: Telegram

The Ambassador in France (Wallace) to the Secretary of State

Paris, April 9, 1920—midnight.
[Received April 10—6:11 a.m.]

951. B–12 for Department and Davis. Your R-305, April 2d [March 31], Rathbone’s R–455, March 25th, regarding article 260.

1st.
Your views set forth in your R–305 communicated to Reparation Commission which discussed matter this date.
2d.
It was decided to forward to Germany letter quoted in Rathbone’s R–455, paragraph 5.
3d.
Your opinion stated in your paragraph 2, R–305, as to manner of disposing of these properties was laid before Commission. Bradbury thought the Commission finally accepted or [at least] committed itself to sell to governments under the terms of letter referred to in paragraph 3a of Rathbone’s R–455. I reminded him that while the letter was open to his construction that there was also a reservation in the letter which left the Commission free to dispose of these rights and interests as it saw fit and that in view of your instructions I reserved rights. This question was not really open for discussion at to-day’s meeting. Bradbury’s remarks and mine were noted on minutes and it was agreed that the other delegates should confer with their governments on this subject which would be discussed at a later meeting.
4th.
Your paragraph 3, R–305, reference China. Commission decided that as this involved interpretation of treaty it should be referred to the Legal Board for decision before discussion.
5th.
As discussions reference article 260 may arise again at an early date can you give me the later advices requested in paragraph 10 of Rathbone’s R–455. Boyden.66
Wallace
  1. Roland W. Boyden, assumed duties on Apr. 1, 1920, as American unofficial representative on the Reparation Commission, to succeed Albert Rathbone.↩