500.A15 a 1/295: Telegram
The Chairman of the American Delegation (Gibson) to the Secretary of State
[Received June 20—7:40 p.m.]
15. Conference opened this afternoon at 3 o’clock with brief statement by me to the effect that as chairman of the delegation of the power which had suggested the holding of the Conference, I was calling the meeting to order for the purpose of organization. I was thereupon nominated by Bridgeman and seconded by Saito as president of the Conference. Hugh Wilson named secretary general and the secretaries of the respective delegations named. Thereupon rules of procedure were adopted; and the Conference on my motion decided to form an executive committee to be composed of the chief delegates of the three powers with appropriate assistants to determine on further methods of procedure, and credentials committee was named to examine full powers. Executive committee meets Tuesday at 11 a.m. and credentials committee at 3 p.m.
Viscount Saito thereupon proposed that the delegates send a message to President Coolidge and read text quoted in my 12, June 20, 5 p.m. Bridgeman cordially supported Saito’s proposal. Thereupon I made statement quoted in my 2, June 16, 11 p.m., and 3, June 17, noon,43 and circulated proposals in form communicated in my 6, June [Page 48] 18, 11 a.m., and 9, June 19, 3 [2] p.m.44 Bridgeman followed with statement quoted in my 13, June 20, 6 p.m., and Saito with statement quoted in my 14, June 20, 7 p.m.45 First plenary session thereupon adjourned; no definite date was fixed for next public meeting, it having been previously agreed between Bridgeman, Saito and myself that date of meeting would be fixed as soon as executive committee considered that we were prepared for further public discussion.
After meeting, Admiral Jones and I had conference with the press and gave out press release quoted in my 11, June 20, 11 a.m.