500.A15A4 General Committee (Arms)/163: Telegram
The American Delegate (Wilson) to the Secretary of State
[Received March 27—9:40 a.m.]
1027. Please see my letter to Moffat March 13 and Moffat’s letter to Mayer March 8, point a.62
The so-called first reading of the text will probably be finished this week. Thereupon two questions of procedure will probably arise: (a) Shall we continue to work in private or shall we undertake our second reading in public session; (b) Shall we in second reading endeavor to write a single text with reservations or shall we write alternate texts.
In the light of my 988, February 22, 6 p.m., and your approval of last paragraph thereof my instinct would be to press for public sessions, public votes on disputed points and a single text with reservations where such are necessary. But the situation in Europe has of course materially changed since those messages were exchanged. The course which I contemplated then might now provoke sharp and dangerous controversy between the states of Europe if position were taken in public. Furthermore, we would run the risk of appearing to take sides in a European alignment. Also I sense among my colleagues a desire not to push this matter to sharp and open conflict at this time. Hence, if we do so push it the responsibility for such results as I have sketched above might well be attached to America.
I have hesitated to burden you with request for advice on procedure but a decision on this point is fraught with dangerous possibilities and of course from Geneva I cannot appreciate what importance our people in America would attach to a public and vigorous fight against Great Britain, Italy and possibly Japan in order to force the issue on a treaty of this character. It seems to us here that the decision as to this question must be premised upon an evaluation of American public opinion. If the demand for action is strong enough to justify us in taking the risks involved in such a procedure we should do so. If not we should not run the risk. Please instruct.
- Neither found in Department files.↩