765.84/4129: Telegram
The Consul at Geneva (Gilbert) to the Secretary of State
[Received April 17—6:52 p.m.]
125. 1. I am informed that in a secret meeting of the Committee of Thirteen today, the following were the chief developments:
Madariaga reported that the Ethiopian delegation had categorically rejected the Italian terms for negotiation and had added that Abyssinian opinion had perceived that the matter had developed into two questions, one between Italy and Ethiopia and one between Italy and the League, and the Ethiopian had been abandoned.
Eden made a statement to the effect that as it was evident that conciliation had failed the only recourse for the Committee was to refer the matter to the Council from which it had received its mandate.
It was decided that the Committee would meet tomorrow to adopt a report to the Council. The date set for the Council is Monday, April 20.
Vasconcellos said that it appeared desirable that the Committee of Eighteen should be convened for next week but that no day would be set until after the Council meeting.
2. It appears to be understood that the Council meeting will be public. The atmosphere in Geneva is sober but not tense. Speculation turns on the extent to which positions taken in private in the recent series of Committee meetings would be maintained in public. It would appear evident that a maintenance of such positions would create a situation subversive to the League’s position.