500.A4/90b: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Great Britain (Harvey)
436. Speaking from Foreign Office telegram, Geddes today said his Government, in view of our recent conversations, would not further pursue question of preliminary conference; that they regretted there had been a misunderstanding; that they hoped and expected the conference would be successful, and desired the United States to take full responsibility for arrangements in order to avoid possibility of further misunderstanding.
[Page 51]I asked the Ambassador if this meant we should fix a date, and he said he could not go beyond his instruction. However, he interpreted it to mean that we should do so. I said that you had already made suggestions to Curzon as to the date; that we had asked also for views regarding agenda; that Curzon had made some suggestions to which we made countersuggestions; that I hoped there would be a continuation of this interchange of views, as the conference could only be made successful in this way.
This apparently ends suggestion of preliminary conference, and we should immediately arrange for a date for conference in Washington. Ascertain if November 11 would be agreeable. If Great Britain leaves this to us we shall suggest this date immediately to the other Governments.