710.G International Law/7: Telegram
The Chairman of the American Delegation (Hull) to the Acting Secretary of State
[Received 7:45 p.m.]
75. For the President and Phillips. I feel hopeful that controversial subjects will not be forced to a vote. If a few words deemed [Page 200] absolutely necessary I have had time to revise communication to you of yesterday and in the absence of message from you will use the following:
“The policy and attitude of the United States Government toward every important phase of international relationship in this hemisphere could scarcely be made more clear and definite than they have been made by both word and action especially since March 4. I have no disposition, therefore, to indulge in any repetition or rehearsal of these acts and utterances and shall not do so. Every intelligent person must by this time thoroughly understand that the United States Government is as much opposed as any other Government to interference with the freedom, the sovereignty, or other internal affairs or processes of the governments of other nations.
The able address of Dr. Saavedra Lamas, to which we have listened, and the strong if not absolutely conclusive showing he makes in support of the importance and really the necessity for codifying some of the findings, definitions, and recommendations relating to the rights and duties of nations cannot wisely be disregarded. His point is well taken that unless full and accurate definitions are carefully worked out and agreed upon so that their uniform application can be made by all the nations the result will be confusion, misunderstanding, and difference of interpretation in the future. To oppose the important suggestion of Dr. Saavedra Lamas is to invite the difficulties hereafter that I have just mentioned with the further result that this codification work could not be avoided in the end.
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 food-neighbor doctrines and policies as set forth in the addresses of ‘resident Roosevelt and in the peace address of myself as head of the Delegation of the United States on the 15th day of December before this Conference and in the law of nations as generally recognized and accepted. [”]