800.6176/19: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in the United Kingdom (Bingham)
Washington, September
26, 1936—11 a.m.
348. Your 442, September 24, 5 p.m. Your report of the conversation of Atherton and Butterworth with Sir John Campbell gives further emphasis to the difficult situation existing with respect to the leadership in both rubber control and tin control. Further instructions may be sent to you in the near future regarding this situation.
In the meantime you are authorized, if you see no objection, to place the following facts before Sir John Campbell or other appropriate officials of the British Government:
- 1.
- It was understood that the Consumers’ Panel was created by the International Committee and that the Rubber Manufacturers Association was invited by the International Committee to appoint a representative on this panel. Unless this action on the part of the Committee was a completely empty gesture, it is difficult to understand how efforts of members of this panel to secure adequate protection of consumers’ interests could be considered outside influence or interference by the Committee.
- 2.
- The position taken by Colonel Townsend has been fully authorized by the Board of Directors of the Rubber Manufacturers Association, and representatives of the largest rubber consumers, including Firestone, Goodrich, Goodyear and United States, have fully supported this position.
- 3.
- Although this Government is not represented on the International Committee in any way, it feels that its interest in the world rubber situation is just as vital and legitimate as the interest of any government represented on the Committee. This Government certainly has no intention of making any demands upon the Committee or of issuing any threats. Its purpose is merely to seek a frank exchange of information and opinion and it is unable to understand how this attitude can cause any resentment or irritation on the part of the International Committee or any of its officials.
Hull