[Enclosure]
The Counselor for Economic Relations of the
British Foreign Office (Ashton-Gwatkin) to the First Secretary of the American
Embassy (Johnson)
No. W 7419/182/50
[London,] 7 August, 1936.
My Dear Johnson, I am now in a position to
let you know the latest developments regarding the international
sugar conference since His Excellency saw the Secretary of
State21 on the 25th
May.
You will recall that in my letter of the 2nd January I stated that it
was considered important that a conference should not be held
without the participation of any country whose adherence to the
Agreement was regarded as essential by any of the other participants
in the conference, and accordingly, after considering the replies
received from the International Sugar Committee and from Dr. Colijn,
His Majesty’s Government took steps to ascertain the views of the
Governments of Japan, Russia and Santo Domingo, whose participation
in the conference was held to be essential.
The Soviet and Dominican Governments expressed their willingness to
participate in a conference, if called, although the Soviet
Government made it clear that the character and extent of any
liabilities
[Page 534]
to be assumed
by the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics in regard to a future
Sugar Convention could only be established at the conference itself
and in connexion with the course of negotiations between the
participants therein.
The Japanese Government, however, while emphasising that they are
anxious for international co-operation in all matters and have
therefore given every consideration to the proposal to participate
in an international conference and ultimately in a Convention on the
subject of sugar, regret that they cannot subscribe to any agreement
of the kind which has been suggested or attend a conference on this
subject.
The International Sugar Committee and Dr. Colijn have now been asked
what action they can suggest in the light of these replies.
I shall not fail to let you know if there are any further
developments.
Yours sincerely,
