611.5431/237: Telegram
The Minister in Switzerland (Wilson) to the Secretary of State
[Received September 26—9:32 a.m.]
39. Your 63, September 24, 6 p.m. I discussed the matter personally with Stucki this morning and presented your argument. He informed me that he understands the situation perfectly and that he was in entire accord with you that the negotiations should proceed with the utmost rapidity. He stated, however, that for domestic reasons it was impossible for the Swiss Government to withdraw any [Page 765] of their requests for additional concessions until they had been answered by the American Government. He admitted frankly that some of these requests were not a sine qua non for the conclusion of an agreement and that upon receiving our replies as to which we could grant entirely, which we could grant partially, and which we could not grant, he would then immediately study the situation in order to say which of the requests he was forced to press and which he could give up. He hoped that with the excellent documentation in the Department it would not take long to prepare replies to these requests which could be telegraphed by Nef to Bern. It would certainly not take him long on receipt of your reply to get to final grips with the question.