500.A12/77: Telegram
The Ambassador in Great Britain (Houghton) to the Secretary of State
[Received 3:53 p.m.]
337. Department’s telegram No. 322, October 24. The probable calling of a European conference for limitation of armaments is occasioning me real concern. Should a conference of this sort eventuate, nothing can prevent at least a part of European press from voicing distinct satisfaction and from seeing in our exclusion a definite and intended rebuff to would-be American leadership. This view would be copied into the American press and, coupled with the fact that the League of Nations is now a formidable political machine, would be used to demonstrate that our policy, despite all our sacrifices, has resulted merely in eliminating us from the general comity of nations and has left us isolated against a united Europe and without friends in Asia.
In these circumstances may I suggest for consideration that it might clear the situation if President Coolidge were to point out at early opportunity that any so-called American interference in European affairs has come only when the European powers themselves were unable to agree and had asked our help, as in the Dawes Plan. When these powers can agree, especially in efforts to effect limitation of armaments, neither reason nor excuse for our participation exists. Our approval of a conference of that sort may be taken as matter of course. The administration, rather than its enemies, it seems to me, should define its position, but unless such a definition as suggested be made early any later statement would avail little. Attitude on our part such as I suggest would unquestionably have salutary effect on this side the water and would serve to bring to minds of the powers concerned that they would be affected adversely and possibly disastrously by any real withdrawal on our part.