500.A15A4 Steering Committee/219: Telegram
The American Delegate (Wilson) to the Secretary of State
[Received December 5—8:33 p.m.]
473. From Davis. Today Matsudaira gave me the text of the Japanese navy proposal. It is a closely knit plan involving qualitative [Page 409] restrictions in all categories; quantitative restrictions and consequently ratios in the so-called offensive categories of capital ships, aircraft carriers and heavy cruisers; “uniform tonnage” for five principle powers in defensive categories of light cruisers, destroyers and submarines; and a system of general and special agreements based upon regional grouping. A study of full text is necessary for complete understanding. I presume that you may have been presented with a copy. If not shall I cable full text? [Davis.]