56
765.84/1847
The Secretary of State to the
United States Delegation at Geneva
[Telegram]
[WASHINGTON,] October 17, 1935—6 p.m.
129. Your 508, October 15, 8 p.m. It is
important that, if possible, daily newspaper rumors and reports from Europe
about the attitude or policy of this Government toward some phase of the
Italo-Ethiopian controversy, and especially reports that foreign governments or
agencies are just about to inquire of this Government whether it can or will
cooperate with foreign Governments or peace agencies in one way or another,
shall be minimized to the greatest possible extent. My opinion is that you can
anticipate most of these and head them off by casually and unofficially
imparting all permissible information relative to our present and prospective
course and attitude. Every leading official abroad knows that prior to the
outbreak of the war our chief purpose was to aid in preserving peace, whereas
after hostilities began our chief object is and will be to avoid being drawn
into the war.
The lengthy succession of acts and utterances
by this Government in an attempt to preserve peace should be well known in
every foreign office and at Geneva. Our numerous steps taken after the outbreak
of hostilities primarily and paramountly to keep out of the war, although incidentally
and consciously calculated to be very helpful in discouraging a protracted war
or a spread of the war, should likewise be well known abroad. This Government
preceded others in declaring that a
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state of war exists, in enforcing embargo on arms, ammunition and
implements of war, in refusing Government credit in support of trade
transactions, in warning all Americans that any transactions of whatever nature
with the belligerent countries would be at their own risk, and that Americans
traveling on ships of the belligerent countries would do so at their own risk,
and finally in my public statement of October 11 it was made certain that the
influence and attitude of this Government under the foregoing policies was
definitely to discourage any and all economic transactions between our
nationals and those of the belligerent countries. The American public is making
a satisfactory response to the policy thus indicated.
Subordinate to this major policy of not being
involved in war, this Government is keeping thoroughly alive its definite
conviction that it and all nations have a real interest in peace in every part
of the world, and hence a special corresponding interest and obligation to
contribute to the cause of peace in every practical way consistent with our
well known foreign policy of non-involvement or entanglement. The numerous acts
and utterances of this Government, both before and after the outbreak of
hostilities, offer definite and clear index of the course and attitude of this
Government relative to the Italo-Ethiopian controversy in the future.
Foreign Governments and peace agencies are
familiar with the extent and limitation of statutory authority of this
Government to deal with the various phases of the existing war situation. It
must be clear to them by this time that this Government is acting upon its own
initiative and proceeding separately and independently of all other Governments
or peace organizations. It is also important to keep in mind that in some vital
respects the policy of this Government to the extent based upon the discretion
of the President is intended primarily to apply to the present specific
Italo-Ethiopian situation rather than as an inflexible and permanent policy.
The purpose is to meet and deal effectively with conditions and circumstances
as they may arise. . . .