560.M3/50: Telegram
The Chief of the American Delegation (Wilson) to the Secretary of State
[Received July 8—9:23 a.m.]
15. Your 3, July 7, 1 p.m. Your original instructions were so comprehensive that at every stage of proceedings the attitude that I should take was clearly indicated to me. Although I took a minor part in debate on ratification matter (see my 11, July 6, 2 p.m.), nevertheless I worked diligently in conversation with my colleagues to persuade them that it was unnecessary that the United States be included in the list. Probably as a result of these conversations the French delegate twice urged the Conference vigorously not to insist on the necessity of American ratification but was overruled by the general opinion. I was not able to persuade certain of the delegates, notably the German, Swiss and Japanese, that America should not be included in the list. This particular matter has been debated to such an extent that I am convinced that no useful purpose would be served by further insistence on our part and might even give rise to suspicion of our [Page 398] bona fides. I earnestly hope that the Department will not insist further in this matter. I deplore, as you do, the complex nature of these clauses and wish it had been possible [to] simplify the procedure, but it must be borne in mind that what is adopted is much simpler than certain of the schemes proposed and is a compromise reached after prolonged discussion.