767.68119T&M/7: Telegram
The Special Mission at Lausanne to the Secretary of State
[Received November 26—11:10 a.m.]
22. Our telegram 19, November 25, 3 p.m. We understand that the American and European press has displayed considerable interest in the statement regarding the traditional policy of the United States toward the Open Door which we made in today’s session, and that certain intentions are being read into the statement which cannot be justified either by its text or by the manner in which it was presented. We submit the following comments for your information.
For obviously good reasons the statement was given to the press through the press board of the conference as well as by the American Mission with the chairman’s approval. The only comment we have made is that the statement means just what it says and nothing else. Curzon, who presided, told us at the close of the session that it was an appropriate time for us to make our statement.
Tonight we have talked with the head of the Italian delegation, Garroni. He was cordial and took great care to make clear that the Open Door for America would be included in any Italian aspiration in the Near East.
It has come to our attention that various attempts are being made to enter into secret agreements, and to permit them to continue without stating our position would mean that later we would be faced by accomplished facts, and then it would be futile to state our policy [Page 906] in defense of our legitimate interests. Another reason for making our statement at this time was that if we did so later when the interests of some one nation should be involved, it would easily be distorted and given the interpretation of an expression of dissent from the view of a particular nation or of an attempt to protect some hidden American interest. In the future when occasion arises, as it doubtless will, we can refer to this general statement.
It seemed that today’s occasion clearly invoked the Department’s instructions that our observers should be present during the negotiations, ready to put in the necessary word to protect our interests at any critical or opportune moment. See Department’s telegram to Paris 345, October 27, 8 p.m.25
- Child
- Grew