462.00 R 296/117: Telegram
The Ambassador in France (Herrick) to the Secretary of State
[Received December 20—2:57 p.m.]
528. L–60. First. All the individual delegates of powers represented on Reparation Commission have just informed me that it is their intention to extend a unanimous invitation to Harry M. Robinson, President of First National Bank, Los Angeles, to sit on second committee experts provided Robinson willing to accept. Delegates request me to ascertain whether Robinson will accept. They ask me to inform Robinson confidentially that his associates on this committee would be: Great Britain, McKenna; France, Atthalin; Italy, Alberti; and Belgium, Janssen; and that first meeting this committee would be held in Paris on or about January 10th, 1924. Delegates request no publicity be attached to invitation because if Robinson accepts, as all hope he will, commission will make immediate public announcement in same form as in case of Dawes and Young pending plenary meeting commission when formal invitation would be extended. Request earliest possible reply.
Second. Ambassador and I feel that, inasmuch as Robinson’s name has been unanimously proposed by all the delegates like those of Dawes and Young without initiative or knowledge their part and constitute such a signal honor, that under no circumstances should Robinson decline.51 Logan.
- On Dec. 22 the Department informed Mr. Logan that Mr. Robinson had accepted (file no. 462.00 R 296/117).↩