500.A4/26: Telegram
The Chargé in China (Ruddock) to the Secretary of State
[Received July 18—1:33 p.m.]
264. My telegram no. 259, July 13th, 5 p.m. Yen requests you be informed that China while accepting in principle two conferences would prefer one conference for both disarmament and Pacific problems since disarmament interests all nations and China would like as many nations at the conference as possible. He also greatly desires statement by Great Britain on its attitude toward alliance [Page 36] before the conference is held. He thinks that Great Britain is suggesting Pacific conference to find possible exit from the alliance dilemma and if conference fails will fall back on the alliance. To prevent this and to assure the success of the conference Yen wants Great Britain to commit herself on the alliance before the conference. Yen thinks that the United States could ask this from Great Britain in return for calling conference. Yen also asks for list of the subjects to be discussed in order to prepare.