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JOHN EDGAR HOOVER rans . wi DIRECTOR . | , H ‘Mederal Rucea of tnuestinatiowt AHB: BV: AL Mnited States Department of Justices 94-21-2061 Mashiugton, D. ¢. February 17, 1939 . | FEBFRAL Bes EAN OT BET n= ave CATION: MEMORANDUM FOR MR. GLAVIN ~ WAR 2 1939 Re: : International Criminal — tl S. DEPAR AY, OF JUS TICE Police Commission. ee ee pn ee ee Following his return from the thirteenth meeting of the I to June ll. 1937, Insnector Lester by memorandum to the Nirector asted > June 29, 1937, reconmenied that the United States become permanentl; con- nected with the Commission in view of the nossible contacts with dutstanding law enforcement officials throuzhout the world and the nossibility of learn- ing new scientific developments and methods of interest to the Bureau. In this memorandum Inspector Lester stetss, "The officials of the Commission assured me that no charge of eny kind would be assessed to the United States as a result of my official attendance at the past conference and that no country would ever be called upon to zay nore than 7,000 Swiss Marks per year, regardless of the vopulation of thet country." In this sane memorandum Inspector Lester also states, "IJ am definitely of the opinion that the officials of the Commission will acceot any contribution which you suggested that the United States should make annually to assist in bearing the expenses of the Commission, and. this matter should be threshed out with the officials of the Commission before the United States accepts permanent membership in the Commission." The following is quoted from Page 13 end 14 of Insnector Lester's renort covering the above meetinr: "In this connection, it was rointed out to the officials of the Counission by the United states delegate that the cost to the United States, should the United States decide to become u member ‘of the Commission, would be entirely disproportioncte, in view of the fact that the Commission abpverently based various countries’ contributions on population rather than proximity to the seat of activities of the Commission, to wit, Vienna, Austria, and that it was obvious that the smaller Huropean countries with much smaller populations than the United States would receive far sroeter creetical benefits froa the activities 7° the Commission than the United Otates could vossibly hone for. The officials of the Comission '‘! agreed that this was true and nointed out that no country woulé be called on annually to contribute more than 7,00) Swiss Merks, and thut the Commission was desirous of having the United States become a member regardless of any amount contributed. They indicated stromly that the Commission would be willin: to accept any reasonable amount annually, suggested by the United States and should it be deemed advisable for the United States to join the ~ Comission, this particular matter could be definitely settled before the .