767.68119/211: Telegram
The Special Mission at Lausanne to the Secretary of State
[Received November 27—5:16 p.m.]
29. Circumstances have brought the subject of the Ottoman public debt before the first subcommission of the Commission on Financial and Economic Questions for immediate discussion. It is necessary that our policy be determined immediately. As the Department has requested our views26 we have drafted the following sentence as a statement of our position:
The American delegation wishes to suggest to the first subcommission of the Commission on Financial and Economic Questions that equity and foresight demand that the Council for the Administration of the Ottoman Debt be constituted so as to provide for the membership of any nation or nations to the government or nationals of which is owed a substantial share of the national debt, either now or in the future, whether the debt arises from unpaid indemnities or from loans.
We are taking this position not only in our own interest but as one which may be supported by reason. At present we see nothing to be gained by a reluctance to put our position on record. As instructed [Page 909] by the Department, we will refrain from making representations pending further instructions.
- Child
- Grew