462.00R296/2937: Telegram
The Chargé in France (Armour) to the Secretary of State
[Received May 31—3:35 p.m.]
246. Reparation No. 256. Both sides are now making concessions with regard to German conditions, and it looks as if Committee might reach complete agreement within next 24 or 36 hours, and final report be ready for signature by middle of next week.56
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…I understand that the creditor groups have not allotted to the United States anything in the unconditional category. Practically everything in this category has been given to France, who will deposit with the bank approximately 500,000,000 marks to equalize [Page 1083] her disproportionate share of the conditional payment. Young does not feel that anything further can be accomplished on this point at present conference.
Our position as set forth in your No. 165, May 19, is now matter of record with the experts of the creditor groups, and, if we so desire, we can insist upon participating in the unconditional payments when the conference of the governments is held to put the new plan into effect. …
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[A conference was held at The Hague, August 6–31, 1929, for the purpose of bringing into effect the plan offered by the Committee of Experts.—Great Britain, Cmd. 3392, Miscellaneous No. 5 (1929): Protocol With Annexes Approved at the Plenary Session of The Hague Conference, August 31, 1929.
The Government of the United States was represented at the Conference by Mr. Edwin C. Wilson in the capacity of observer and with specifically limited powers.]
- The report of the Committee of Experts was signed on June 7, 1929.↩