Office of the Historian

765.84/4757: Telegram

The Consul at Geneva (Gilbert) to the Secretary of State

Geneva, June 30, 1936—10 p.m.
[Received June 30—9:15 p.m.]

271. The Assembly convened today with all members represented except the Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Honduras, Italy, Nicaragua, Paraguay and Salvador.

1. Van Zeeland was elected President.

2. The President read a statement from the Italian Government97 which reviewed such negotiations as had taken place between Italy and the League respecting Ethiopia and, referring to the barbarous and disordered conditions of that country, emphasized the spontaneous welcome accorded Italian rule.

Certain assurances respecting the treatment of natives, the prohibition of slavery, the militarization of the native population and “fair treatment for the trade of all countries” were expressed, as well as a readiness to inform the League of the progress achieved.

In conclusion, the statement reiterated Italian willingness to cooperate with the League and recalled in this connection the spirit in [Page 178] which Italy joined the Argentine anti-war pact. It was made clear, however, that such cooperation is dependent upon the termination of sanctions.

3. Cantilo declared98 that the principle respecting nonrecognition to enunciate “belongs to all the American republics from North to South”; he cited the pertinent historical American formal, national, and international action up to the Washington declaration of 193299 and the Argentine nonaggression treaty; the League, if it is to retain its universal character, must reassert its support of these principles; if American ideas cannot be harmonized with the manner of applying the Covenant, the American republic would be obliged to reconsider the possibility of continuing its collaboration.

There was no reference to its application to the Abyssinian question and no suggestions as to the form of League endorsement desired.

4. The Emperor made a moving appeal citing the history of the case and warning the states of the danger of the precedent set for them in an abandonment of Ethiopia.

It was regarded here as an “unanswerable” arraignment of the League position. Full summaries are being carried by the press.

Gilbert
  1. See footnote 92, p. 173.↩
  2. For full text of the Argentine declaration, see League of Nations, Official Journal, Special Supplement No. 151, p. 21.↩
  3. Declaration signed in Washington by 19 American Republics, August 3, 1932, Foreign Relations, 1932, vol. v, p. 159.↩