793.94 Commission/780: Telegram

The Minister in Switzerland (Wilson) to the Secretary of State

98. Your 65, February 7, 7 p.m., gives me helpful guidance and is much appreciated.

Appreciating your desire for the maximum of exact information I shall keep you as precisely informed as possible.

As you are doubtless aware statements such as those of Eden and Massigli reported in my 9577 are made in a general discussion in the Committee of Nineteen. While representing the views of the speakers the statements or opinions cannot be considered to indicate definite decisions or agreements. After such discussion the rapporteur and the drafting committee endeavor to put into written form what they consider the consensus of opinion. The draft will then be presented to the Committee for definite agreement or amendment as the case may be. Frequently the newspaper correspondents fail to appreciate this method and assume too definite conclusions.

The meeting of the drafting committee mentioned in the last sentence of my 95, February 6, 9 p.m., has been postponed until today owing to certain revised instructions received by the Japanese for discussion with the Committee, I am credibly informed.

I am speaking to Eden today as you suggest.

Wilson
  1. February 6, 9 p.m., p. 149.