462.00 R 296/139: Telegram
The Ambassador in France (Herrick) to the Secretary of State
[Received 7:47 p.m.]
7. L–73. Dawes and Young releasing following statement to press, 5 p.m. today, European time:
“The American experts have up to this time made no statement of any kind to the press. Whatever they have to say now and hereafter will be by formal statement.
They have been invited by the Reparation Commission to sit as members of an expert committee which is asked to develop facts and make certain suggestions. The American experts come as private citizens without instructions and without the obligation of making reports except to Reparation Commission. They have no preconceived plans, simply hoping that in the plans developed by others they may be of assistance.
There is one statement, however, which they have no hesitancy in making at this time and without consultation, they assume that it represents the sentiment of all members of the committee, as well as public sentiment everywhere, to wit: that time is an essence of this situation, that the committee is a business committee concerned with facts and constructive inferences to be drawn from them, that their [Page 110] work should be conducted with all possible expedition and that there should be daily and continuous sessions. Signed Charles G. Dawes and Owen D. Young”.
- Logan
- Herrick