550.S1 Economic Commission/80: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Consul at Geneva (Gilbert)
87. Please consult Stoppani1 and ask him whether he believes it possible to proceed in regard to an international copper agreement along the same course that was followed in preparing for the international wheat agreement.2 Would it be feasible for the Secretariat acting with the authorization of the permanent organization of the Economic Conference to arrange for conversations through a meeting of experts of the important copper producing countries, and on the basis of their joint conclusions to decide the question of possible future action?
You will recall that the American Delegation at London submitted and the Conference adopted a resolution3 which proposed that the Governments of the copper producing countries submit to the Secretary General of the Economic Conference before September 15 their ideas on this subject “with a view to the summoning of a suitable meeting to examine whether it is possible and expedient to conclude an agreement”.
If necessary to brief the proposal by expounding the general world copper situation, the danger of overproduction and intense competition in the world market, the American Government will transmit such a brief at once, but the facts are rather obvious. If the Secretariat acting for the Conference can take this initiative the American Government would be willing to proceed as it did in regard to wheat and directly inform the governments of the other producing countries of its interest in the matter and express the wish that they participate in the conversations.
You might take this occasion to tell Stoppani that you are instructed by your Government to express to him and the rest of the Secretariat its appreciation of the assistance they rendered to the formulation of the wheat agreement.