740.00111 A.R./634

Memorandum of Conversation, by the Secretary of State

During his call on me, the Brazilian Ambassador requested the support of the United States Government in favor of Rio de Janeiro as the meeting place for the Inter-American Neutrality Committee, as created by paragraph five of the General Declaration of Neutrality of the American Republics at Panama. I spoke at length about the friendship of my country for his and the desire of my Government always to be cooperative in every feasible manner, etc., etc. I said then that I should say to him confidentially that the subcommittee of the Pan American Union, recently appointed to study the manner of selecting the seven members of the Inter-American Neutrality Committee, were rumored to have their report completed for the meeting on November first of the Governing Board; that the report suggests that each of the six countries represented on the Committee of Experts on the Codification of International Law be invited to choose one member of the Neutrality Committee, and that the host Government, when known, shall be invited to choose the seventh member.

I added that this would probably bring on debate and discussion at the coming Pan American meeting. I concluded by saying that I would be glad in the meantime to keep in touch with the Ambassador and to exchange any further information with him in regard to all phases of the question. He said that the matter was not of enough importance for extended debate or discussion and he would undertake to see the Ambassador of Venezuela and talk at length with him so as to develop unanimous agreement with respect to the matter. I agree with the Ambassador that all reasonable effort should be made to avoid controversy since this was not a matter of major importance.

C[ordell] H[ull]