Office of the Historian

550.S1 Economic Commission/3: Telegram

The Chairman of the American Delegation (Hull) to the Acting Secretary of State 60

London, June 20, 1933—5 p.m.
[Received June 20—1:05 p.m.]

46. One of the interesting developments in the Economic Committee has been the prominence given to proposals for the international control of the production and exchange of various important commodities such as wheat, wine, cotton, lumber, coal, copper, silver, et cetera. This proposal was put forward by the French and has received the support of the British. A separate subcommittee of the Economic Conference will be occupied with the subject.

The French interest no doubt arises in part from the fact that if it should succeed it would lessen the pressure for moderation of tariffs and quotas. The British support was expressed by Conliffe-Lister, Minister for the Colonies, which indicates the direction of British interest.

The difficulties to be overcome in reaching any agreement of immediate importance except in the case of wheat61 and which discussions [Page 650] are already advanced are great. The American delegation will follow the development of plans and ideas closely and sympathetically with a view of protecting the American interests. Has the President any further instructions on this matter?

Hull
  1. Transmitted to President Roosevelt, aboard U. S. S. Ellis, as telegram No. 3, June 20, 4 p.m.↩
  2. For correspondence relating to the wheat agreement, signed at London, August 25, 1933, see pp. 787 ff.↩