724.3415/3687: Telegram
The Consul at Geneva (Gilbert) to the Secretary of State
78. Consulate’s 77, May 17, 5 p.m.;62 and Wilson’s 254, May 17, 9 a.m.
1. The following is a summary of the British representative’s statement proposing an arms embargo: The British Government endorses “the general conclusions to be drawn from the Chaco Commission’s report” and in particular considers that the draft treaty proposed by the Commission is an “honorable solution” and urges the two parties to reexamine and accept it.
Eden then referred to an arms embargo as offering an effective means of contributing to the cessation of hostilities. He recalled the negotiations for an embargo initiated by the British in a note to the Secretary General under date of February 25, 1933.63 These negotiations had been suspended because of the proposals made for a commission of inquiry. It was now urgently necessary to resume these negotiations and he proposed that the Council “send telegrams at once to the 17 Governments whose cooperation is necessary to inquire whether they are prepared to agree to the arms embargo proposal.” He added: “It may be in some instances that Governments have not at this moment the necessary powers to put an embargo into effect; where this is so His Majesty’s Government trusts that it may be found possible to take necessary legislative action as an emergency measure.” He then urged the neighboring countries to forbid the transit of war supplies to the belligerents.
2. The representative[s] of France, Italy, Spain, Czechoslovakia, the Argentine and Australia spoke in support of the British proposal. The Argentine support appeared unequivocal.
3. Full text of statements being despatched by mail.
4. Discussion on the embargo proposal will be resumed in the Council today.
5. In regard to the Chaco question as a whole (see telegram under reference) the President will set as early a date as possible for its discussion. He requested the Committee of Three to follow the matter in the interval with the assistance when desired of the members of the Chaco Commission.