Office of the Historian

793.94 Advisory Committee/29: Telegram

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

Washington, March 31, 1933—6 p.m.

92. Your 159, March 29, 11 a.m. I desire absolutely to avoid being drawn into any discussion of this Government’s attitude with regard to any proposed embargo on export of arms until the League shall have made its own decision. I do not intend that this Government shall assume the role of mentor to the League or accept a responsibility which initially lies with and belongs to the League under the League’s Covenant. You should, by refusing to be drawn into discussion of the subject of embargoes, discourage any hope or expectation on the part of the League to the contrary.

Please review Department’s 2, September 23, 1932, noon,85 first two paragraphs, and Department’s 85, March 11, 1933, 7 p.m., and 89, March 16, 1933, 8 p.m.

Hull
  1. Telegram to the Acting Chairman of the American delegation to the General Disarmament Conference, Foreign Relations, 1932, vol. iv, p. 271.↩