DEPARTMENT OF STATE Memorandum of Conversation
Date: March 1, 1949
Subject: Courtesy Call by Ambassador of Ceylon
Participants: Secretary Ambassador of Ceylon
His Excellency G.C.S. Corea, Ambassador of Ceylon, called at 3:30 today to pay his respects. The Ambassador explained that, owing to his absence from Washington on official business in London, he was unable to attend the reception for the Diplomatic Corps at Blair House on January 24.
I asked whether this was not Mrs. Corea's first visit to Washington, to which the Ambassador replied affirmatively. I then introduced the subject of our mutual interests in the legal profession and in public service.
In answer to the Ambassador's question as to whether I had ever visited in Ceylon or India, I observed that prior to my appointment as Secretary I had contemplated making a trip to that part of the world on behalf of some of my clients who had interests there but that my appointment had forestalled this possibility. The Ambassador replied that although I now have only one client, the interests of that one client in the area might justify such a trip.
In answer to some other questions put by the Ambassador, I made a few general comments on the manner in which a case is argued before the United States Supreme Court and on the subject of the original jurisdiction of the Supreme Court. The Ambassador reminisced upon his own experiences as a Barrister and in Government service and related an amusing anecdote about the argument of a case before the Ceylon High Court.
The Ambassador then expressed his gratification at having had this opportunity to call on me and made his departure.
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