548.D1/295
The Secretary of State to the Secretary General of the League of Nations (Avenol)3
The Secretary of State of the United States of America acknowledges, with appreciation, the communication from the Secretary General of the League of Nations, dated March 18, 1936,4 with its enclosure, informing him that an Inter-Governmental Conference would be convened at Geneva on July 2, 1936, with a view to arranging a system of legal protection for refugees coming from Germany. It is noted that the Secretary General desires to be informed whether the Government of the United States of America intends to be represented at that Conference, and if so, by whom, and that he calls attention to the privilege extended this Government to suggest additional questions for inclusion in the agenda of the Conference.
As the status of all persons coming to the United States of America is fully defined by existing legislation, this Government does not contemplate participating actively in the proposed Conference nor does it contemplate becoming a party to any convention which may be drafted at the Conference. The Government of the United States of America does desire, however, if such an arrangement would be agreeable, to have Mr. Prentiss B. Gilbert, American Consul at Geneva, attend the meetings of the Conference as an observer, or, if he be unable to attend, to have a member of his staff designated by him serve in that capacity.
In view of the circumstances cited in the preceding paragraph, this Government does not desire to comment concerning the agenda of the Conference.