462.00 R 29/4046a: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in France ( Herrick )
90. H–41 for Hill.8 The Department intends to discontinue the maintenance of an independent office for the American Unofficial Observer, Reparation Commission, on May 31, 1926. This action is for reasons of economy as well as because of the progress made in disposing of questions touching American interest in the reparation problem, and also in view of the reorganization of the Reparation Commission. The Department intends to designate a member of the Embassy staff to attend the meetings of the Commission after May 31, 1926, and in general to take over duties which the Unofficial Observer has performed.
The change described above would involve return of Mr. Hill to the Department as soon as practicable after May 31. Mr. Edwin C. Wilson, First Secretary of Embassy, has been assigned to the Embassy in France. Mr. Wilson has been familiarizing himself in the Department with pending reparation questions. Department intends to charge Mr. Wilson with special duty, under direction of the Ambassador, of attending to matters regarding reparation. He expects to reach Paris about first of May, thus having about a month in which to familiarize himself, on the ground, with condition of matters now pending, in consultation with Mr. Hill. If arrangement be carried out, the Department would expect Mr. Wilson to give preferential attention to reparation matters.
The Department wishes Mr. Hill to make every effort to have pending questions disposed of before May 31, as far as possible. The Department will endeavor to aid in this action by forwarding promptly any additional instructions Mr. Hill may require.
[Page 121]The Secretary will welcome any suggestion and comment that either the Ambassador or Mr. Hill may care to submit in regard to the matter. Also please telegraph recommendations as to physical arrangements and personnel, and whether it would be feasible to incorporate in Embassy offices a section with necessary personnel and space for attending to reparation matters.
- Ralph Waldo Snowden Hill, American unofficial observer on the Reparation Commission.↩