550.S1/961: Telegram
The Chairman of the American Delegation (Hull) to the Acting Secretary of State
[Received June 14—5:05 p.m.]
30. For the President and Phillips. The Secretary’s address was well received by the delegates of all nations.53 There has been a most disquieting development however in our relations with the British and French. We were under the illusion that MacDonald had promised us his active support for the chairmanship of the Monetary Commission, but this morning discovered that he had apparently left the French under the same illusion with the result that Bonnet54 now definitely opposes Cox as Chairman of the Monetary Commission and tonight stated that he would nominate a representative of a smaller power for the position. The British attitude remains unclear and we are strongly reminded of the traditional tactics employed by Lloyd George. We obtained promises from a majority of the members of the Bureau that they would vote for Cox at the scheduled meeting this [Page 641] afternoon whereupon MacDonald without consulting us postponed the meeting of the Bureau until tomorrow noon and we are in doubt as to the result. We intend to refuse the chairmanship of the Economic Commission which may be offered to us in case we are defeated upon this issue and we are in doubt as to the future course we shall pursue unless certain of the British show an increasing disposition to deal with us frankly and as collaborators.