550.E1 Russia/—: Telegram

The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Italy (Child)

9. Your 50, May 14, 1 a.m. and 51, May 14, noon. This Government views suggestion sympathetically and is disposed to favor acceptance of invitation provided—

1.
Committee shall be constituted for expert inquiry and report as to economic situation and remedies;
2.
Committee shall be wholly advisory and shall take no action to bind Governments without their explicit consent;
3.
It shall be agreed in advance that no separate arrangements shall be made with Soviet authorities pending Committee’s inquiry and report.

This Government will await more detailed statement of plan and formal invitation before making final decision as to acceptance.

Hughes