500.A15A4 General Committee/141: Telegram
The American Delegate (Wilson) to the Secretary of State
[Received December 14—12:03 p.m.]
496. This morning’s session of the General Commission was devoted to a discussion of the Five-Power declaration39 following a statement by the President summarizing the action of the Bureau taken since July 23rd resolution. While all speakers welcomed the declaration and the return of Germany to the Conference representatives [Page 416] of the smaller states in particular Poland, Yugoslavia, Rumania, Uruguay, Belgium, Spain, China, Argentina and Ireland considered that the method of private conversations was one which should not be adopted as a normal form of procedure for the Conference. They felt that only by discussion of all questions in duly constituted organs of the Conference with the collaboration of all states can success be assured and the interests of all participating powers given due consideration.
Massigli followed by Simon pointed out that occasionally such conversations in limited groups were required to overcome certain obstacles but were not to be considered as substitutes for the regular machinery of the Conference.
In the name of the German delegation Weizsäcker thanked the President and the speakers for their words of welcome and assured the Conference that Germany would resume its collaboration when its active work began in January. The spirit of good will and confidence manifested by the Five-Power agreement was one which in his opinion would bring the Conference to a speedy, successful and satisfactory conclusion in the common interests of all states.
After the approval of a resolution welcoming the Five-Power declaration and thanking the representatives of those powers for the success of their efforts Henderson explained the decision of the Bureau to reconvene the next meetings both of the General Commission and Bureau in January and adjourned the session.