724.34119/185: Telegram
The Ambassador in Argentina (Weddell) to the Secretary of State
[Received 10:42 p.m.]
215. From Dawson. Paragraph 3, my 212, September 20, 9 p.m. Bolivian and Paraguayan delegations have agreed that the International Commission on War Responsibility should be chosen as follows: the Bolivian and Paraguayan Governments would each request a neutral American Government to designate a judge and the third and presiding member would be a Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States, “negotiations” for the designation of the latter being entrusted to the chairman of the Conference. The Commission would have a prolonged period probably 18 months in which to render an opinion on all aspects of the war responsibility question. If either party failed to accept the conclusions, the question would under the terms of the June 12 Protocol go to the Permanent Court of International Justice for final decision.
Saavedra Lamas tells me that he feels it is essential to know before the final draft of the necessary resolution is approved whether any Justice of our Supreme Court would be prepared to accept an invitation to sit on the Commission and asks me to endeavor to ascertain this through the Department. His idea is apparently that it would be useless to adopt a resolution making definite provisions for an American Justice without reason to believe that one would accept. I should appreciate instructions as to what reply I should make.
Preliminary drafts so far considered have not specified a meeting place. I have expressed the opinion to Saavedra Lamas and to members of the Drafting Committee that it would probably be impossible for an American Justice to absent himself from Washington for a period such as that contemplated.
Repeated to Rio de Janeiro. [Dawson.]