Foreign Relations of the United States Diplomatic Papers, 1938, General, Volume I

540.61B3/261

The Secretary of State to President Roosevelt

Washington, September 3, 1938.

My Dear Mr. President: On June 17, 1933 you approved the designation of Mr. Curtis T. Everett, American Consul at Geneva, as a delegate on the part of the United States to a conference which convened at Geneva on July 15, 1933, to discuss a draft Convention for Facilitating the International Circulation of Films of an Educational Character. On April 9, 1934 Mr. Everett signed on behalf of the United States the Convention agreed upon at this conference.¹

The Convention for Facilitating the International Circulation of Films of an Educational Character conferred certain authority upon the International Educational Cinematographic Institute which was established at Rome in cooperation with the Italian Government. The International Educational Cinematographic Institute has recently been closed as a result of the withdrawal of the Italian Government from participation in the activities of the League of Nations and consequently the effectiveness of the Convention has been seriously impaired.

This Government has received an invitation from the Secretary General of the League of Nations² to participate in a conference to convene at Geneva on September 10, 1938 for the purpose of considering amendments to the Convention which would remove the difficulties resulting from the suspension of the activities of the Institute at Rome. Although the United States has not yet ratified the abovementioned Convention, it is agreed by the interested Departments of the Government that participation in the forthcoming conference is desirable.

I should appreciate your informing me whether the designation of Mr. Curtis T. Everett, American Consul at Geneva, as delegate on the part of the United States to the forthcoming conference would meet with your approval. Mr. Everett is now at his post at Geneva and his attendance at the meetings would entail no additional expense to the Government.

Faithfully yours,

Cordell Hull

1. League of Nations Treaty Series, vol. clv, p. 331. The convention was not submitted to the United States Senate for advice and consent to ratification.
2. Dated at Geneva, May 19 (C.L.95.1938.XII.); transmitted to the Department by the Minister in Switzerland in his despatch No. 370, May 21, received June 1.