500.A15/855: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Minister in Switzerland (Wilson)
24. Your No. 17, February 27, 3 p.m. This Government would not feel warranted in making any proposals as to procedure to be adopted. Department has examined agenda proposed by Colban. It appears to be sound and logical order for dealing with pending questions. You may inform him of Department’s view.
The Government of the United States has consistently maintained that sole determining factor should be progress of the work in hand. Proposal offered by German delegates to split Preparatory Commission into committees would appear merely to be device for creating impression of activity without regard to practical considerations. In view of present status of work, the method which the German delegation has proposed would appear to lead directly to confusion and deadlock, or, at best, merely to the illusion of progress.
We are unable to see, therefore, any justification for the subordination of this primary purpose to personal political fortunes of any individual delegate. Undoubtedly the German delegation would share this view were it proposed to disrupt Commission’s work in order to save American delegation from criticism at home.
These considerations should be taken into account in informal discussion with the Secretariat at your discretion.