765.84/4752: Telegram
The Consul at Geneva (Gilbert) to the Secretary of State
[Received June 30—11:40 a.m.]
267. Private diplomatic conversations during the last few days have aimed at a reconciliation of positions to the immediate extent [Page 175] that the Assembly procedures may at least not expose sharp issues. These attempted adjustments have notably existed between the European great powers and Italy and Argentina.
A strong effort has been made by the British to prevent the Ethiopian Emperor from following out his announced intention of participating in the Assembly. I am informed privately that as apparently the only means of accomplishing this, serious consideration was even for a time given to declaring that the Ethiopian Government was non-existent, that in view of the publicity given to Emperor’s projected participation, repercussions in public opinion were feared. The Italians have asserted that if the Emperor be allowed to participate it will be a signal for an indeterminate delay in their cooperation with the League and in European problems. The Ethiopian delegation, however, is standing firm on an “everything to gain and nothing to lose policy” generally described in my telegram 247, June 24, 5 p.m.
The British and French are tentatively suggesting in private a postponement of the September Assembly until November. Members of the delegations tell me that it is becoming increasingly irksome to Paris and particularly to London to be “put on the spot” under a set schedule to declare a policy when they have no policy to offer. The British added that November is not a mystic date but that it would at least be a deferment. Note in this connection my telegram No. 269 [264], June 29, 1 p.m.