500.C111/888: Telegram
The Consul at Geneva (Gilbert) to the Secretary of State
[Received September 28—2:40 p.m.]
392. Department’s 100, September 27, 6 p.m. Your instruction was received while the closing session of the plenary Assembly was in progress this morning. The Second Committee had terminated its sessions and its chairman had left Geneva. To carry out the purpose of your message I immediately got in touch with the appropriate League authorities and in line with their suggestion communicated it in a letter addressed to the Secretary General prefacing it with the following:
“I am directed by the Secretary of State of the United States of America to convey the following message to the Chairman of the Second Committee of the Assembly of the League of Nations.”
The President of the Assembly5 just preceding his closing address made the following statement:
“The reports of all the committees having been approved I have now to inform you that I have another communication to make.
During this meeting I have received a very important message from the Secretary of State of the United States of America with regard to the work of the Second Committee concerning economic and financial questions.
As I was unable to communicate this document to the Assembly when it was approving the reports and resolutions of the Second Committee I think I shall be acting in accordance with the desire of the great majority of the delegations if I propose that this letter should now be read to you.”
Following the reading of the message Beneš then stated:
“You have heard a communication which demonstrates the great appreciation of the work of your Committee of a country whose cooperation is indispensable to the attainment of the objects which the League of Nations has before it in the economic and financial spheres. I am sure this communication will be received by the Assembly with the most profound satisfaction of which I am very glad to be the interpreter.”
Representative of the Netherlands stated:
“The communication which has just been made to the Assembly is of the very highest importance and the Netherlands delegation, a member of which was rapporteur on this question, has heard it with the very keenest satisfaction. I am sure that the satisfaction will be shared by the whole Assembly and the Assembly will wish to convey its thanks to the Secretary of State of the United States of America for his message.”
A large number of delegates and Secretariat officials have warmly expressed to me the view that your action serves a highly useful purpose.
- Eduard Beneš, Czechoslovak Minister for Foreign Affairs.↩