500.A15A4/1154: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Acting Chairman of the American Delegation (Gibson)
147. Please take occasion to see Sir John Simon, M. Paul-Boncour, Mr. Matsudaira and Mr. Grandi and deliver to each personally a message from me.
[Page 219]To Sir John Simon: “I have just heard from Mr. Gibson of your speech this afternoon concerning the President’s proposals. I wish to thank you most earnestly for the spirit of sympathetic consideration in which you discussed them, and to trust that our two delegations will be able, working jointly, to contribute to their fulfilment. My appreciation is all the greater in view of the shortness of time in which circumstances have necessitated your consideration of these most important questions.”
To M. Paul-Boncour: “Mr. Gibson has just telephoned me of your courteous speech this afternoon in response to the President’s proposals, and I wish to lose no time in sending you a word of thanks and in telling you how earnestly I am looking forward to the joint efforts of our two delegations in contributing to a successful solution of the labors of the Conference.”
To Mr. Matsudaira: “Mr. Gibson has just telephoned me of your courteous speech this afternoon with reference to the President’s proposals, and I wish to thank you cordially for the cooperation you promised in endeavoring to work out a harmonious solution of the great work in which our two countries are so deeply interested.”
To Signor Grandi: “I have just heard from Mr. Gibson of the eloquent and wholehearted support you gave to the President’s proposals this afternoon, and I wish to assure you not only of my genuine appreciation of Italian cooperation but to add a personal message of pleasure that our two delegations are striving side by side to bring about a real reduction in armaments along these lines. I am also telegraphing to the Chief of the Government in Rome through Mr. Garrett.”