500.A15/257: Telegram
The American Delegate on the Preparatory Commission (Gibson) to the Secretary of State
[Received May 16—3:22 p.m.]
4. Propose to make following statement Tuesday or Wednesday when general statements are to be made by various delegations. Will send flash for release to press on delivery.
- 1.
- The Government of the United States has gladly accepted the
invitation to be represented on the Preparatory Commission. The
[Page 102]
reasons for this
acceptance were stated by the President in his message to the
Congress on January 4th in the following terms:
“The general policy of this Government in favor of disarmament and limitation of armament cannot be emphasized too frequently or too strongly. In accordance with that policy any measure having a reasonable tendency to bring about these results should receive our sympathy and support. The conviction that competitive armaments constitute a powerful factor in the promotion of war more widely and justifiably held than ever before and the necessity for lifting the burden of taxation from the peoples of the world by limiting armaments is becoming daily more imperative.”
- 2.
- It was this conviction which led to the calling of the Washington Conference in 192194 and which prompt[s] the American Government to give its cordial support to any efforts which may lead to further limitation of armaments, wherever and whenever it is felt that the circumstances are such as to hold out a reasonable prospect of success.
- 3.
- In the hope that the American Government may contribute to finding a solution for the problems of the reduction and limitation of armaments the President has sent a full representation with instructions to join in the work of the Preparatory Commission. He has impressed upon his representatives his deep interest in any sincere effort to deal with the problems of armament and his confident belief that with mutual good will substantial progress can be made. It will be a matter of gratification to him if the American representation can in some measure contribute to this progress.
- 4.
- The questions which will come before the Preliminary Commission require patient study in order to establish the principles which offer the most effective method of approach to the reduction and limitation of armaments. It is hoped, therefore, that there may be a general disposition to devote to the problems before us the earnest and continuous attention of the Preparatory Commission and its committees constituted for the study of special subjects.
- 5.
- This is not the time to indicate in detail the views of the American Government on the specific questions which may come before the Preparatory Commission. It may, however, be of interest to state in a general way the attitude of the American Government on certain outstanding questions.
- 6.
- The conditions prevailing in different regions of the world are so varied, and so many divergent factors are involved, that constructive achievement in the matter of the limitation of land armament appears to lie in the conclusion of regional agreements rather than in an effort to work out a general plan for limitation applicable to the whole world. As regards land armament the United States occupies a fortunate situation. We have, since 1918, been able to reduce our land forces from more than four million men under arms at the end of the World War to a present actual strength of 118,000—or one soldier per thousand inhabitants. It will thus be seen that so far as land armament is concerned we have voluntarily reduced to a minimum. It is fortunate that our situation has permitted this reduction [Page 103] but we are not disposed to overlook the fact that other countries are differently placed and that their problems are not susceptible of such simple solution.
- 7.
- With respect to naval armament it may be noted that, while a substantial part of the program presented to the Washington Conference by the American Government was realized, no agreement was reached as to the limitation of competitive building of naval craft other than capital ships and aircraft carriers. The American Government would welcome any steps which might tend to the further limitation of competitive naval construction.
- 8.
- The scope of the work of the Preparatory Commission includes a consideration of all types of armament and of many related problems. For the ultimate success of our effort toward the limitation of armaments, it seems important not only to consider general abstract principles, but also to endeavor so far as possible to isolate from the general problem as many concrete questions as possible and then deal with these definite questions in a direct and practical way.
- 9.
- One of the most practicable approaches to the subject lies in an effort to put an end to international competition in armaments. Agreements of this character should constitute helpful guarantees of that national security which in turn would facilitate future efforts for the further reduction of armaments.
- 10.
- The task before us is beset with obstacles and difficulties. One attempt after another has been made to overcome them in the past—and in spite of intelligence and industry and good will the end sought has not yet been attained. It is imperative as never before to destroy the spectres of suspicion and of distrust which rise from competition in armaments and thus lay a foundation for lasting peace. No one of us can accomplish this alone but together we can go far along the road if we approach our task with a single purpose—with a readiness to understand each other’s problems and patience to seek solutions. We have no right to disappoint our peoples. They have suffered too much and their lives are clouded with fear of future wars. If we refuse to be turned aside from our purpose we can surely do something to relieve their anxieties. There could be no greater incentive for us to meet in a spirit that is worthy of our task.