500.A15A4/1125: Telegram
The Acting Chairman of the American Delegation (Gibson) to the Secretary of State
[Received June 16—2:02 a.m.]
251. Davis had conversation this morning with MacDonald. Simon was present. MacDonald had just been talking with Herriot and Paul-Boncour and was more hopeful than after his conversation of yesterday. It was apparent from the conversation that MacDonald is anxious to keep some touch with disarmament problems and is willing to return from time to time to Geneva when occasion demands.46 Davis intimated that after the visit which he and I had made to London and the talks we had had there and from subsequent information we had expected that the British would have a more general program to discuss with us. Simon replied that he had this very much on his mind. He wished to see whether we had any suggestions to make. Davis replied that we had no suggestion to make ourselves but that we were ready to sit down with them and consider any suggestions they might have to make. Simon replied that he would plan to return to Geneva on Friday47 and to devote the week-end to consultation with us and such other consultations as might be necessary. Simon rather vaguely sketched the possibility of a holiday on building certain material such as big guns and certain categories of ships. He brought up again the reduction in unit size of battleships. Davis stated that it would be better to confine the discussion to something on which there was possibility of agreement and that we might both consider the prolongation of the period in which [Page 178] we would not construct any more of these ships and that at some time during that period we might consult as to what should be done at its end. Simon acquiesced in this thought. He stated in addition that he had ideas on the handling of military aviation but that this could be reserved for subsequent discussion.