500.A15/256: Telegram
The American Delegate on the Preparatory Commission (Gibson) to the Secretary of State
[Received May 16—10:30 a.m.]
3. (1) The British and the French delegates are endeavoring, in harmony with our views, to arrange that the Conference committees be substituted for League organizations.
(2) Mr. Boncour, of the French delegation wishes to be chairman of the Conference and on Monday morning is coming to broach question to me. As far as I am aware support for Boncour is general and he would unquestionably make a good chairman. As yet there has been no rival candidate proposed. Boncour’s election would have this advantage, that it would encourage him to press for a successful achievement. It may prove desirable to give him our vote, in view of fact that French delegation is using its influence in support of our views regarding committees.
(3) My name has been proposed by French delegation as vice chairman of Conference. It would be unwise, I think, for me to accept, as my usefulness to the work of our delegation would be restricted, and there are as well other obvious disadvantages. Unless you instruct me otherwise, it would be advantageous to decline the vice chairmanship and to propose instead the name of Uruguayan delegate who has a good deal of influence and who has been consistently friendly to us at other conferences.