Dear Michael,

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It is, as I have said, much too early to formulate any views as to what will happen at the Assembly, or as to whether the Assembly will be an important meeting or not. With the Spanish situation as it is, and the varying Sino-Japanese situation, and the general unrest in Europe, coupled with the progress in re-armament, and the danger of incidents, anything may happen between this and September, and grave questions may therefore arise. I know that in connection with all these things you will be wondering whether the Minister ought to come or not. In regard to the Minister's coming, I stated my views last year, and I have little to add or to subtract from them in regard to this year. After all, all the important Foreign Ministers come to the Assembly, if only to meet and talk with each other, and they find it of advantage to do so, and, even in private conversations, our Minister would have much to contribute in the dangerous position to which European politics have been brought, when a great part of Europe and elsewhere may be within measurable distance of finding itself another Spain. The Minister's views that unless the real difficulties in connection with the 'vanquished States' - political and territorial - and not merely the economic difficulties, are tackled and disposed of, the alternative is almost certain war, when everybody will lose, could not be too often rubbed home. Even the question of the economic difficulties is as you know making slow progress, as witness the proceedings as the Raw Materials Committee.

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