550.81/929: Telegram
The Chairman of the American Delegation ( Hull ) to the Acting Secretary of State
[Received June 11—7:30 p.m.]
21. Morrison and Bullitt this afternoon obtained MacDonald’s agreement to 10–minute limitation of preliminary speeches and definite conclusion of Conference by August 12. MacDonald also agreed to consult with the American delegation before making any decision important in any way to the United States; and that we should have membership on any committees we desired; also that we should have our choice between the chairmanships of the two great commissions: (1) monetary; (2) economic.
MacDonald said that he proposed to organize the Conference as follows: immediately after speeches by King and himself tomorrow he will appoint a “Bureau” which will act as a steering committee. He proposed as members of the Bureau the United States, Switzerland, France, Germany, Italy, Russia, Sweden, China, Japan, Mexico, the Argentine, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, and one British Dominion. We suggested substitution of Brazil for Argentina and pointed out that inclusion of British Dominion indicated clearly that Empire [Page 633] preferences as between sovereign members of the British Commonwealth were violation of most-favored-nation clause. MacDonald will call a meeting of the Bureau tomorrow evening and will ask the American representative on the Bureau to present our views in regard to the tariff truce, the limitation of preliminary speeches to 10 minutes and the achievement of definite agreements before August 12. Preliminary speeches will occupy Conference Tuesday and Wednesday. Thursday morning MacDonald will appoint the chairman, vice-chairman and “rapporteurs” of the two great commissions. The American delegation has as yet been unable to decide which of the chairmanships it is more desirable to hold but the majority opinion is that we should take the chairmanship of the Monetary Commission. The chairman of each of these commissions has the power to appoint the numerous subsidiary committees which will deal with the specific problems before the Conference and MacDonald proposes to conduct the work of the Conference in collaboration with the chairmen of the two commissions rather than with the Bureau which will be called together only in cases of emergency. As soon as the commissions have been organized the submission of the resolutions contained in our instructions will be in order. MacDonald shows every disposition to work intimately and cordially with us.