Papers Relating to the Foreign Relations of the United States, 1928, Volume I

863.51 Relief Credits/122: Telegram

The Minister in Austria (Washburn) to the Secretary of State

[Paraphrase]

Vienna, June 4, 1928—10 a.m.
[Received 12:37 p.m.]

25. Reference the Department’s 28, June 1.

(1) A brief statement respecting the situation in Congress which I made for Thursday morning’s Freie Presse, had, I am told, a good effect. Am sending a full report by mail.

(2) In a parliamentary declaration Thursday, Chancellor Seipel stated, “for the sake of completeness”, that the adjournment of the United States Congress was not the only obstruction to suspension of the liens. Italy’s attitude in the Reparation Commission, following unanimous adoption of a resolution in principle, he referred to as being attributable to the “strained relations which still exist to our regret.” Differences with Italy, in the Reparation Commission and the Relief Bonds Committee, he intimated, do not necessarily involve a “retardation” of the loan for a relatively lengthy period of time, while the adjournment of Congress to December is such a retardation. This portion of Chancellor Seipel’s speech, being his first public statement concerning Italy’s attitude, has been commented upon by newspapers to a considerable extent.

Washburn