Papers relating to the foreign relations of the United States, 1931, Volume I

462.00R296/4525

The British Ambassador ( Lindsay ) to the Acting Secretary of State

Washington , 16 July, 1931.

No. 245

Sir: I have the honour to inform you under instructions from His Majesty’s Principal Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs that in view of the critical international situation His Majesty’s Government in the United Kingdom have decided that it is now necessary to summon immediately the Conference of Ministers which was foreshadowed at the time when the invitations to the Committee of Experts meeting in London on the 17th instant were sent out.⁷⁴ It is desired that the Conference of Ministers should meet in London at six o’clock on Monday July 20th. The Experts’ Committee will as arranged arrive on Friday, July 17th, and will put themselves at the disposal of the Ministers on Monday, July 20th.

The Prime Minister and the Secretary of State go to Berlin as arranged on July 17th returning in time for the Conference of Ministers on July 20th when it is hoped that Doctor Bruening will accompany them.

In conveying this information to the United States Government I am to express the earnest hope of His Majesty’s Government that the Ministers concerned will be in London in time for the Conference.⁷⁵

I have [etc.]

For the Ambassador:

T. A. Shone

74. For correspondence concerning the London Conference of Experts, July 17–August 11, see pp. 164 ff.
75. On July 22 the Acting Secretary of State replied that Mr. Stimson and Mr. Mellon, Secretary of the Treasury, would attend the Conference.