500.A16/73: Telegram
The Ambassador in Belgium (Gibson) to the Secretary of State
[Received October 18—11:25 a.m.]
68. Department’s No. 71, October 16, 4 p.m. On sentiment in Geneva I agree with Wilson’s suggestion, which he had discussed previously with me. That is the only phase which I have felt qualified to consider. If press comments in America, however, are likely to confuse this meeting with general disarmament, and take our nonparticipation as a refusal to cooperate in arms limitation, then it is obvious that the proposal should be considered in that light.
If the meeting is called with no greater prospect of an agreement than exists at present, and if it is felt that we should be represented in order to avoid misunderstanding at home, then I believe it desirable that our representation should be reduced to a minimum. One representative with civilian assistant should be sufficient, as no new technical problems can very well be brought up. This representative could easily refuse to be drawn into debate, limiting himself to repeating previous statements on our position should this be necessary in order to avoid distortion.