793.94 Conference/6: Telegram
The Ambassador in Belgium (Gibson) to the Secretary of State
[Received October 11—1:55 p.m.]
77. My telegram No. 76, October 11, 1 p.m.88 British Ambassador yesterday received instructions to take the matter up with the Minister for Foreign Affairs. As the Minister was out of town over Sunday the Ambassador addressed a confidential note to him embodying ideas outlined in the Department’s 45, October 8, 4 p.m. He followed this up with a personal call on the Minister this morning.
As Van Zeeland has just left for a 2 weeks holiday in the south of France prescribed by his doctor I thought it well to call on the Foreign Minister immediately afterwards and convey to him the message contained in the Department’s 46.
The Minister states that he is personally disposed to give a favorable answer and assumes that there will be no difficulty but that he cannot give an official reply until he has consulted Van Zeeland by telephone and has secured the approval of the King who is also absent from Belgium. He expects to be able to give an official answer tomorrow.
[Page 72]Through a leak in the Foreign Office morning papers contain an inconspicuous item to the effect that Belgium has been requested to convene the Nine Power Conference here and that the idea has been well received in Government circles.
- Not printed.↩