710.G 1A/286: Telegram
The Acting Secretary of State to the Chairman of the American Delegation (Hull)
25. Your 14, November 27, 1 p.m. Have discussed matter with the President. Domestic program both in the field of industry and agriculture may create such a state of change in comparative competitive conditions that it seems impossible for the time being to make a proposal at Montevideo for the retention of the tariff truce38 or to commit this Government at the present moment to any multilateral commercial agreement.
The only way open would seem to be the presentation of a strong resolution in favor of a vigorous endeavor to mutually lessen trade [Page 43] barriers and as a means thereto that they resolve to enter as promptly as possible into bilateral discussions and agreements for effecting that end.
It might be possible as well to put forward the suggestion discussed before your departure that the Conference establish a committee for the study of multilateral trade agreements between the countries represented at the Conference. Such committee might be visualized as a continuing committee which would be assigned its task at Montevideo and continue its deliberations thereafter. These would appear to be the only definite elements covered by the London proposal but [put?] forward by us now.
- For correspondence relating to the tariff truce, see vol. i, pp. 574 ff.↩