500.A4002/2: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Great Britain (Harvey)
511. Referring to your 705 of August 26. Have not yet received Supreme Council minutes but appreciate fully advantages of procedure you describe. Prefer the more informal and direct intercourse which is made possible by small delegations. We desire as far as possible to meet British wishes in this matter. It is considered important, however, that idea should not get abroad that we have limited size of delegation and thus made impracticable Dominions’ representation. Our willingness to have larger delegations should accordingly be apparent.
In fixing the number it is necessary to have regard to personnel. The President has announced the appointment of the Secretary of State and Senator Lodge and in order to enable him to make other highly advisable appointments we do not see how the number of authorized delegates can be less than four. We desire to have Root on delegation and also a representative of the Senate minority, or would desire Knox if latter refuses representation. These names are not to be communicated to the Foreign Office and for the present they are to be kept strictly confidential. If Curzon approves we are ready to agree on four as the number of authorized delegates. It is unnecessary to agree on the number of expert advisers, which may be as large as any Government desires.