FOREIGN POLICY ASSOCIATION
April 28, 1921
TO MEMBERS OF THE NATIONAL COUNCIL:
This is the first of what we hope will be a series of communications to you with reference to the work of the Association, particularly in regard to those phases of the work which for one reason or another, it may not seem desirable to describe in the Bulletin.
CHANGE OF NAME
You will note that the Executive Committee has finally, after months of discussion, and taking cognizance of suggestions from the National Council and members, changed the name of the Association to one which we believe to be more descriptive and less confusing. It does not fully satisfy us but seems a distinct improvement over the old name.
MEXICO
Last week we submitted to Secretary of State Hughes, who informed us that he would be glad to have it, an elaborate brief on "The Matter of the Settlement of Disputed Questions Between Mexico and the United States." It was prepared by the Mexican Committee, under the direction of Professor Joseph P. Chamberlain, head of the legislative drafting department of Columbia University. Professor Chamberlain and the men who worked with him have all had long years of experience in Mexican affairs and were able to present what seems to us a very convincing brief against anything like intervention and in favor of a policy of conference and conciliation as the means of settling all pending questions. Because of our pledge to the State Department not to use this memorandum in any public way, and because too of the expense involved in a large edition, we have had printed only thirty copies. If you would be especially interested in going through this material, we should be glad to send you a copy, but must ask that it be returned.
RUSSIA
Three weeks ago it was announced that Mr Montgomery Schuyler had been appointed head of the Division of Russian Affairs in the State Department. On October 29, 1919, in answer to an inquiry from this office as to whether he would take part in a discussion on the Russian question, Mr. Schuyler wrote as follows: [page 2]
"If it were possible for me personally to do it, I would continue the blockade of the so-called Soviet Russia until every Bolshevik now there were starved to death and I would then extend the same treatment to our own Bolsheviks."
The announcement of his appointment seemed to us to make this correspondence of public interest. Copies were therefore sent to members of the Russian Committee, and, through one of the members, it was shown to Secretary Hughes with the result, we are told, that he expressed his thanks for our having shown it to him, and Mr. Schulyer is now to be transferred to another post.
The Association, having held a number of discussions on the question of Russian trade, is preparing for another conference early next month, on the basis of the recent developments in Russia and the [reopening] of trade between that country and Great Britain.
REPARATIONS
You will have noted from the January-February Bulletin that the chairman, on his return from abroad, urged that the Association concentrate as much attention as possible on the problem of inducing our government to adopt an active policy looking towards the prompt and reasonable exchange of notes between our government and the German government seems to us to mark the beginning of such a policy. The German appeal was admirably timed and [skillfully] framed. Mr. Hughes' reply, although saving, as it does, the face of [intransigents], in effect puts us in a position of mediator, and at the same time avoids the appearance of mediation. The Allies cannot refuse to reconsider their problem of drastically and immediately extending the military sanctions. Mr. John Foster Dulles' speech at our Reparations Luncheon (March 12) has been reprinted in the New Republic, the New York Commercial and the London Economic Review, and has been widely commented upon editorially.
LIMITATION OF ARMAMENT
The Executive Committee, feeling that our government ought to take the initiative in some sort of international arrangement for the limitation of armament expenditures, particularly naval, has been cooperating with various organizations towards this end. A memorandum, prepared in this office for the League of Women Voters, is being used throughout the country as the basis for study of this problem. We are organizing a National Committee of prominent men and women devoted to [crystalizing] public opinion in favor of practicable means of reducing the appalling burdens involved in naval rivalry. [page 3]The Executive Committee would very much appreciate your comments on the activities of the Association. Particularly they would be glad to have any criticisms which would enable them to more wisely shape their policies and more efficiently carry them out.
Very sincerely yours,
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