. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
[Enclosure]
Draft of Telegram to the High Commissioner in the
Philippine Islands (Murphy)11
Washington, April 20,
1936.
On January 2, 1936, the British Foreign Office addressed to the
American Embassy in London a letter12
inquiring whether the United States would be likely to accept an
invitation to participate in an international conference on sugar on
the basis outlined in the letter from the Foreign Office. This
Government delayed serious consideration of this question because of
the uncertainty regarding the sugar program of this Government
created by the Supreme Court’s decision in the Hoosac Mills case. A
reply is now being sent, however, stating that it is probable that
the Government of the United States would welcome an invitation to
attend an international sugar conference along the broad lines
suggested. This reply also calls attention to the fact that the
Government of the United States does not now exercise any control
over the production of sugar in the Philippines and the opinion is
expressed that the Government of the Commonwealth of the Philippines
should have a representative of its own upon a United States
delegation attending an international conference on sugar.
The following is the text of the informal note of January 2, from the
British Foreign Office:
[Here follows the text of the British note of January 2.]
The British Foreign Office is being informed by this Government that
this matter is being brought to the attention of the Philippine
Government and that the Foreign Office will be informed as soon as
possible by this Government regarding the position of the Philippine
Government. It will be appreciated, therefore, if you will bring
this matter to the attention of the Philippine Government and will
then inform this Government regarding the position which the
Philippine Government will take.
The British Foreign Office has expressed the opinion that delegations
should be kept as small as possible and should be purely official.
It is probable that the Government of the United States would concur
[Page 527]
in this opinion and
that an American delegation would be composed of official
representatives and not of representatives of the sugar
industry.
This Government will be glad to have the opinion of the Philippine
Government as soon as possible, including any comments upon the
communication from the British Foreign Office or upon the problems
which might come before an international sugar conference. Should
definite plans be made for an international conference, probably it
would be desirable for the representative of the Philippine
Government to be included in the American delegation to meet with
other members of that delegation for a discussion of their common
problems in advance of the conference.
It is understood unofficially that no definite date for the proposed
conference is now under consideration. It was reported at first that
the conference had been planned for this spring but it is believed
that for various reasons that plan has been dropped. As soon as
there is any indication of more definite plans with respect to the
conference, you will be informed so that the information may be
transmitted to the Philippine Government.
