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Memorandum of Conversation, by the Secretary of State
The British Ambassador came in at my request. He had previously gone to the European Division to deliver a copy of the communication [Page 57] of Prime Minister Chamberlain to Mr. Hitler and also copy of his communication to Mr. Mussolini.55
I first thanked the Ambassador for the courtesy of his Government in acquainting us with the substance of these two communications. I then said I had called him in to say that in the awful event of war, which looked very threatening at that moment, I wanted his Government to know that this Government and nation would have no policy or purpose to displace and supplant existing, established, British trade in various parts of the world; that whatever we might do in the way of securing the trade of numerous other countries I might mention, we would have no purpose to displace British trade by taking advantage of its disadvantages due to the war and Great Britain’s participation in it. The Ambassador seemed very much moved by this statement and expressed his deep appreciation.
- See Documents on British Foreign Policy, 1919–1939, 3d ser., vol. ii, p. 587, docs. Nos. 1158 and 1159.↩