765.84/1583: Telegram

The Minister in Switzerland ( Wilson ) to the Secretary of State

316. Your 185, October 4, 3 p.m.87 While the Council was summoned to Geneva for this morning no meeting has been set thus far. It may be that a formal meeting will not be called until early next week to give occasion for private exchange of views in the meantime. Thus the matter is too fluid to predict as yet what will happen. If by the end of the afternoon I have a more definite opinion on the subject I will telephone as you suggest.

It is a trite under-statement to say that the situation is ticklish. Even the matter of a decision of the existence of a state of war in Ethiopia may give rise to considerable discussion in the Council if the subject is raised. Therefore an immediate proclamation by us of an outbreak of war or of a state of war might influence the decision of the Council and involve us in responsibility for the course of action which they adopt. Furthermore, the application of the neutrality resolution by us at this stage before the rest of the world has pronounced on the question might invite complications which would bring about a condition which the neutrality bill itself was designed to avoid. I respectfully submit that unless there are reasons to the contrary of which I am unaware you may think it advisable to delay action [Page 665] until the League has taken a position or at least until we ascertain more accurately which way the states over here are going to jump.

Cipher to London, Paris, Rome.

Wilson
  1. Post, p. 793.