500.A15A5/333: Telegram
The Chairman of the American Delegation (Davis) to the Secretary of State
[Received 9 a.m.]
74. 1. Craigie called this afternoon and informed me the British Government was in favor of adjourning the conversations on the 19th or 20th; that they are very anxious to do so on a good note, and accordingly favor a tripartite meeting, to which the Japanese are agreeable. Their idea is that the three-cornered meeting would be a happy ending to this phase of the conversations, with no serious discussion, and that a communiqué would be issued, to be agreed upon beforehand but which he suggested should be roughly something to the following effect:
“The naval conversations, which have been proceeding since October 23rd have been agreed by all parties to have served a useful purpose, every aspect of the naval problem having been discussed frankly, fully and amicably. It has never been the intention of these preliminary conversations, which do not include representatives of all the Powers which took part in the conversations held in 1930, to reach any hard and fast agreement. Now that the views and positions of the respective delegations have been made known, it is considered highly desirable that the representatives should resume personal contact with their Governments in order to fully examine and analyze the results so far achieved, and accordingly it has been agreed to adjourn the conversations. It is nevertheless understood that for the remaining days before the American and Japanese representatives leave London, the purely informal talks which have been taking place [Page 400] during recent weeks may if deemed advisable be continued while they are still available.
After adjournment the British Government will keep in close touch with the Governments of the United States and Japan, and will summon a future meeting at such time as they think opportune. They will also have an opportunity for further consultation with the Governments of the Dominions and with the Governments of the other countries who are parties to the Washington and London Naval Treaties.”
2. I did not commit myself with regard to the proposed procedure. I think however that there is some advantage in a three-cornered meeting and it would be difficult for us to refuse it. Without having fully considered as yet the substance of the proposed communiqué, I see certain advantages in a statement along these lines, except that it would seem advisable to delete any reference to informal talks after denunciation; at least I think it should be understood that there must be no informal talks here after denunciation. While no reference to denunciation can be included in the communiqué it should at least be understood between us that there shall be neither formal nor informal talks following denunciation, but that there may be informal talks to tie up odds and ends between adjournment and denunciation.
3. In the course of the conversation with Craigie I restated our position with regard to a termination of the conversations and the calling of a future conference. He replied that the British must insist on calling it an adjournment rather than a definite termination but said that if we would meet them in this one respect they would meet us in agreeing not to fix a date for any further meeting or conference (although they would much prefer a fixed date) with the understanding however that if the British are to assume the responsibility for calling a final conference, they must reserve the right to invite the five Powers to preliminary conversations preparatory to such a conference. They would also meet us in not asking us to commit ourselves now to attend such preliminary conversations. Craigie said that although it is distinctly understood that there is to be no departure in principle from the present basis, stress is being laid, in the talks with the Japanese upon the fact that the present relative positions shall be maintained through the respective naval programs; he added that it was vitally important because of the delicate position of the Japanese delegates that there be no indication that the Japanese Government is expected to recede from its position.
4. Craigie also informed me that the British Government yesterday instructed its Ambassador in Tokyo to deliver a memorandum to the Japanese Government stating in effect that the British Government has learned with regret that it is the intention of the Japanese Government to denounce the Washington Treaty which in the opinion of the British Government, is most unfortunate, in that this has provided a [Page 401] stable and fair basis for naval limitation, and in that it has not been possible position [sic] to reach any other basis for naval limitation to take its place. Also the British Government is now making earnest efforts to seek some basis for future agreement that would avoid the harmful consequences of a naval race and the reopening of many serious questions, and finally the hope is expressed that the Japanese Government will at least see fit to delay denunciation until the end of this year, in order that the present conversations may be carried on as long as is possible and useful.