611.4131/313: Telegram
The Ambassador in the United Kingdom (Bingham) to the Secretary of State
[Received June 15—5 p.m.]
384. My 187, April 2, 2 p.m., and subsequent. In conversation with a high official of the Board of Trade this afternoon, he stated that at the last meeting today of the heads of delegations of Imperial Conference Mr. Chamberlain made a very strong and moving impromptu appeal that the Dominions should lend their cooperation for the conclusion of an Anglo-American trade agreement which would mean so much not only as a preliminary to a lowering of world trade restrictions but also towards the establishment of economic international peace.
Summing up the attitude of the Dominions my informant stated:
- (1)
- South Africa, conscious of the advantage of this approach to the United States and undoubtedly influenced by the role that must be played by the United States in future gold discussions, had expressed her entire willingness to withdraw her demands for increased preferences and agreed to make such adjustments as would facilitate the conclusion of Anglo-American negotiations.
- (2)
- Mackenzie King had stated that he had dealings direct with the United States and knew best how to handle the question with [Page 41] Washington himself. The British allege that the Canadian Prime Minister gave them the impression that he felt he could secure concessions from the United States which would permit him to yield on the particular items of the Ottawa Agreements that from a Canadian angle were necessary to an Anglo-American trade agreement.
- (3)
- The Australian delegates allegedly took the line that the United States was successfully bluffing England and that it was not possible in a preelection period for Australia to forego any preferences for the sake of an unsecured future betterment. However, the British authorities here as well as some of the Australians were apparently concerned that Mr. Lyons in the forthcoming election campaign even if pressed should make no campaign statements which would tie his hands for the future.
My informant in conclusion stated that in the next fortnight there would be prepared for despatching to Lindsay a full statement of the situation existing at the end of the Imperial Conference in the matter of the trade agreement.
I transmit the above as of interest although it is patently the British Board of Trade’s explanation.