Office of the Historian

561.311F1/49: Telegram

The Consul at Geneva (Gilbert) to the Secretary of State

Geneva, May 15, 1933—8 p.m.
[Received May 15—5:20 p.m.]

No. 121. From Morgenthau. Department’s 54 May 14 [13], 5 p.m.

1.
Our deliberations reached a stage today where we discovered that McDougall (Australian delegate) has received word from Bruce11 in London that the latter would not communicate any recommendations to his home Government until he has had a personal talk with McDougall in London. McDougall suggested that we adjourn on Wednesday to reconvene in London on May 29. Canadian delegate approved this as he prefers to have Ferguson’s12 cooperation.
2.
I desire to have your approval to send Haas to Washington to make detailed report of the very complicated conditions and counter currents prevailing here and have him return to London by June 5.
3.
So far we have found that the only remedy for price improvement upon which agreement could be had is a reduction of acreage to be applied over a 2-year period. I urged that all countries have the same percentage reduction. It was agreed to sound out the Governments on a 25 percent reduction divided over 2 years. I suggested as a possible concession that we might consent to reduce more the first than the second year.
4.
Argentine delegate stated that their representative while conferring with Roosevelt13 was informed that the United States expected only a 15 percent reduction. Is that true?
5.
After Haas has given you full information I deem it desirable that I discuss over the telephone with the person in authority how to proceed at the London meeting with Bruce, Ferguson and Argentine representative.
6.
Inform Wallace14 and Morgenthau.15 [Morgenthau.]
Gilbert
  1. Australian Minister in Great Britain.↩
  2. High Commissioner for Canada in Great Britain.↩
  3. For preliminary conversations in Washington between President Roosevelt and the Argentine Ambassador to France, see p. 503.↩
  4. Henry A. Wallace, Secretary of Agriculture.↩
  5. Henry Morgenthau, Jr., Under Secretary of the Treasury.↩