793.94/7535
Memorandum by the Chief of the Division of Far Eastern Affairs (Hornbeck) of a Radiotelephone Conversation With the American Delegation Aboard the S. S. “Aquitania”69
Mr. Dooman70 said that Mr. Phillips,71 Mr. Davis,72 Admiral Standley73 and he wondered whether we had made or were going to make at Tokyo an inquiry similar to that which the British Government had made; and that they four thought that the making by us of such an inquiry would be helpful to the position of the Delegation when they take up their task at London. I said that we had not taken such action and did not expect to.
At that point the connection became bad and the operators undertook to improve it. While that was going on, our operator told me as from New York that “there is no privacy in relation to a ship to shore telephone conversation.”
When the connection was renewed, I told Mr. Dooman what the operator had just said. I stated that in what I would next say I would have that point especially in mind. I then said that we greatly appreciated having the message stating the views of the Delegation; that for the past several days we have been living with and sweating over the problem; that it is the unanimous view of Tokyo, Peiping and the officers of the Department who are struggling with the question that we should not take action on the line of that which the British Government has taken; but that, having most carefully considered a half dozen possible courses, we probably will take action, the course chosen being that one which seems to us to offer most chance of meeting the demands of our situation with the minimum risk of inflaming the situation in the Far East. Dooman said that he was sure that we were not being neglectful. I said that it was very useful to us to have the point which he had reported about potential helpfulness to the position of the Delegation in relation to their work at London.
Dooman said that Mr. Davis wished to speak to me. Mr. Davis said that he wished to say “hello”. I said that we were glad to hear from the Delegation and I appreciated personal word from him. I said that Dooman would report to him what I had just said as to what we are trying to do. I then inquired whether they had had news of the reported intention of a certain power to propose some kind of a four [Page 471] power treaty guaranteeing the peace of the Pacific. He said that they had not. I said that it had been reported in the New York papers of yesterday. I added that I thought that the idea was one full of danger. Mr. Davis said that he quite agreed, but that he would not be surprised if within two or three weeks the Delegation were “cruising in the Mediterranean” (spoken with a chuckle and meaning that the Conference would be over). I said that it would not grieve me if such became the case. Mr. Davis asked me to give his cordial regards to the Secretary; I said that I would and I asked him to give mine to Mr. Phillips and Admiral Standley. Mr. Davis said “Yes, good-bye”—and the conversation there ended.
- The delegation was en route to the London Naval Conference; for correspondence on the Conference, see vol. i, pp. 64 ff.↩
- Eugene H. Dooman, adviser to the delegation.↩
- William Phillips, Under Secretary of State and delegate.↩
- Norman H. Davis, head of the delegation.↩
- Admiral William H. Standley, delegate.↩