360 J.-A. PEMBERTON
As a member of the Governing Body of the Centre, I tell you frankly that
I do not think it was a good idea to invite the German Consul to visit the
Centre. In the present circumstances, the German Consulate in Geneva
cannot be anything but an agency for information and propaganda of the
Nazi Government, and I do not think any good can be expected, in inter-
national work, from people representing the National Socialist ideology.
The members of the Governing Body who attended the last meeting at
Geneva had, as the Chairman [Condliffe] told me, a clear idea of what the
Nazi officials think of any plan or programme of international organisation
in the world.^30In concluding his letter, Bonnet stated that the GRC had no authority
to ‘arouse the interest’ of the German consul in the activities of the ISC
‘nor to correspond about it through the German diplomatic bag.’^31 In
his response to Bonnet, Potter insisted that no invitation had been issued
by the centre to the German consul. He stated that Krauel had rung the
centre to say he had a letter to deliver on behalf of Berber and that he
had been given an appointment to this end. Potter added that neither
the governing board nor the staff of the centre would seek to excite the
interest of the German consul in the ISC and that they had no intention
of corresponding about it via the German diplomatic bag. Somewhat tes-
tily, Potter then stated the following:
[I]t must be manifest that it would be impossible for the Centre to tell
German nationals or even German government officials that they were
not free to visit the Centre, even if that were the attitude of the Centre,
which I am sure it is not, or refrain from discussing with them the work
of the Centre...In my capacity as General Rapporteur during the present
period of the International Studies Conference I feel free to make contact
with belligerents and neutrals alike within other limitations governing the
organisation and operation of the Conference. I am well aware that the
Conference does not deal with or through governments in developing its
organisation or activities and you may be assured that I shall observe that
principle, with which I fully agree, with the greatest fidelity.^32(^30) Ibid.
(^31) Ibid.
(^32) Pitman B. Potter to Henri Bonnet, April 15, 1940, AG 1-IICI-K-I-24, UA.