462.00 R 296/122: Telegram
The Ambassador in France (Herrick) to the Secretary of State
[Received 11:50 p.m.]
535. Lh–62. First. At plenary meeting commission this morning, December 21st, on motion president commission formal invitations were extended to Dawes and Young to become members of first committee. In addition, on motion of president of commission, Dawes was invited to accept chairmanship first committee. Invitations to Dawes and Young couched in following language modified as hereinafter indicated in case of Dawes to cover commission’s offer chairmanship first committee:
“Reparation Commission, December 21, 1923. The Reparation Commission at a meeting held on the 30th ultimo unanimously adopted the following decision:
‘In order to consider in accordance with the provisions of article 234 of the Treaty of Versailles the resources and capacity of Germany and after giving her representatives again opportunity to be heard, the Reparation Commission decides to create two committees of experts belonging to the Allied and Associated countries. One of these committees would be entrusted with considering the means of balancing the budget and the measures to be taken to stabilize the currency, the other would consider the means of estimating the amount of exported capital and of bringing it back into Germany.’
The commission has the honor to invite you to participate in the work of the first committee above mentioned.”
In Dawes’ letter following words add to above: “and accept the chairmanship of it.” In Young’s letter following words add to above: “and will be happy to learn of your acceptance.”
In view of the fact that Barthou’s letter December 5th51a and my reply December 12th52 as to scope of inquiry had been formally recorded on the minutes of the 411th meeting of commission, dated December 14, and also published in the press deemed unnecessary to recite its terms in text invitations extended to individual Americans.
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