The full text on this page is automatically extracted from the file linked above and may contain errors and inconsistencies.
May 6, 1943Chairman Eccles: Mr. Steinbower of the State Department called me back last evening at 6:05 and said he had the following to report. 1. President Roosevelt and Secretary Hull personally decided on the men who were invited to be members of the Economic Committee* 2. They chose the men as personal individuals, not as individuals to represent agencies — i.e. the membership of the Committee is on a strictly personal basis and not on an agency basis. 3. Each individual member was chosen for what the President and Secretary Hull felt he could personally contribute and for his ability to participate in discussions, to make constructive criticisms and suggestions, etc. — i.e., they had in mind the individual and not the agency with which the individual might be connected. 4« One person sent an alternate to the first meeting. That was immediately corrected at the time. 5. A number of inquiries came in relative to alternates this time, so in order to make the ruling definite a meeting was held yesterday afternoon and it was ruled that — (a) Because the person was chosen on a personal and not an agency basis, no alternate from an agency is permitted; (b) Because the person was chosen because of what he himself had to contribute, etc., no alternate can be sent to represent him personally. In other words, I was given to understand that you were invited as a person and not as a representative of the Federal Reserve, and that under no circumstances could you send an alternate. Mr. Steinbower said there had been a lot of misunderstanding about representation on the committee, which possibly was brought about by the letters of invitation being sent to the person with his official title attached to the address. Mr. Steinbower said they would be very sorry not to have you vdth them Friday, but as the purpose of the committee is still in the progress stage and not the policy making stage your absence will be less serious. Va Lois Egbertn •¥•<