500.A15A5/51: Telegram
The Ambassador in Great Britain (Bingham) to the Secretary of State
[Received May 22—1:45 p.m.]
270. I am in full accord with the thought expressed in your 203, May 18, 7 p.m., for an early acceptance of this invitation of the British Government and concur in the suggested arrangements.
At the present moment the British official mind is very much concerned with what Simon stated in his remarks, a portion of which is quoted in my 267, May 19, 1 p.m.,41 “the limitations under which the United States Government is likely to act.” This is not confined to the sphere of disarmament and naval discussions but also, and above all at the present moment, it includes debts.42 Since the British Cabinet has this viewpoint, of which Simon’s speech is but an isolated instance, I feel initiative for the time being should come from them since, (1) in that case the burden of accomplishment rests primarily on London, and, (2) they invite us with the knowledge of the limitations under which we act therefore they must be prepared to consider proposals to meet this situation.
- Vol. iii, p. 186.↩
- For correspondence relating to intergovernmental debts, see pp. 543 ff.↩