765.84/2278: Telegram

The Consul at Geneva ( Gilbert ) to the Secretary of State

571. The following is a summary of the chief statements made in the final meeting of the session of the Coordination Committee yesterday evening:

1. Laval spoke in line with his previous statements stressing France’s loyalty in applying the Covenant while at the same time seeking through negotiations a friendly settlement which, however, would have to be considered and approved by the League.

2. Hoare, after emphasizing the inviolability of the decisions taken in regard to sanctions, reiterated statements regarding British policy which he has recently made before Parliament and in election speeches emphasizing the principle of collective action and giving assurances that any settlement reached would be without the framework of the League acceptable to the League, Abyssinia and Italy.

3. Van Zeeland96 referred to the declarations of Hoare and Laval and suggested that “conciliation be immediately undertaken under the auspices of and without the framework of the League itself” and that the League give a mandate to these statesmen “to seek for the elements of a solution under its authority and supervision”.

Van Zeeland’s statement is interpreted here as indicative of the anxiety of the smaller states in regard to French and British policy and as a warning to France and Great Britain that in seeking a settlement they should bear in mind that any solution reached must conform to League principles. The same idea was reflected in the speeches of Madariaga97 and of Titulesco98 speaking in the name of the Little Entente and the Balkan Entente.

Poland pointed out that the committee could not have had formal instructions in regard to the Belgian suggestion since the Council alone was competent to deal with the matter.

The Chairman stated that he felt nevertheless that the members of the committee would give full approval to the “wish” expressed by Belgium.

4. Russia stressed the indivisibility of peace no matter how distant the conflict.

5. The Chairman stated that all the decisions of the committee would be brought to the notice of non-member states.

6. I understand that the Associated Press has sent the full text of the statements of Hoare and Laval and summaries of some others.

Gilbert
  1. Paul Van Zeeland, Belgian Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs.
  2. Salvador de Madariaga, Spanish permanent delegate to the League of Nations.
  3. Nicholas Titulesco, Rumanian permanent delegate to the League of Nations.