500.A15A4 General Committee/505: Telegram
The American Delegate to the Bureau of the Conference (Wilson) to the Acting Secretary of State
[Received June 23—7:38 a.m.]
700. With reference to the telegram from Dulles84 sent from London No. 188, June 22, 11 a.m.,85 I am in general agreement with Eden’s view on this matter but there are certain modifications which I regard as of high importance.
I agree that it would be useless and perhaps dangerous for the General Commission to convene in the immediate future. At the same time I would deplore ceasing all conference activities except private conversations in the month of July since I fear that such conversations will only take place if under pressure of sustained activity at Geneva. I, therefore, favor the Bureau continuing to sit in private as from June 27 to “prepare for a second reading”. Thus Henderson will have representatives of the powers present with whom he can advise and through whom he can arrange consultations with chiefs of state and other authoritative spokesmen. The very fact that the Bureau is meeting, is bound to bring out discussion and will favor conversations even though the meetings of the Bureau are held in private.
Criticism will doubtless arise from states non-members of the Bureau to this prolongation of the Bureau’s task. This, however, could be [Page 198] met by inviting the states non-members of the Bureau to attend its meetings if they so desire. Few of them I think would do so; all would be gratified at the opportunity of doing so.
I am repeating this telegram to London in case there is an opportunity to discuss the matter with Eden before his departure for Geneva. I shall take this position unless you instruct me to the contrary.