710.G1A/315: Telegram
The Chairman of the American Delegation (Hull) to the Acting Secretary of State
[Received December 18—11:45 a.m.]
65. For the President and Phillips. We still hope to avoid controversial discussion of former controversial questions. In the event such questions are forced toward or to a vote I have in mind to refrain from seriously controversial debate which would inevitably undo the harmonious work already accomplished.…
Dr. Saavedra Lamas is proposing a codification during coming months of the troublemaking terms and definitions instead of action on them now in their half-baked preparation. I propose rather than disastrous debate to announce that our Government thinks such codification [Page 194] necessary as Saavedra Lamas has so truthfully suggested and that “pending the completion of the proposed work of codification the attitude of the United States Government in its relations with other governments will be scrupulously to adhere to and carry out the good-neighbor doctrines and policies as set forth in the peace speech of the Secretary of State of the United States on the 15th day of December before this Conference and in the law of nations as generally recognized and accepted”.
This statement preserves to any government the right to protect lives and property where government has broken down and anarchy exists as it also preserves the doctrine of the law of nations in a case where another government would insist on treating our nationals on an equality with their own nationals despite the fact that the law of nations does not go that far.