500.A15 a 1/428: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Great Britain (Houghton)
163. British Ambassador called on me this morning and read telegram containing same suggestion quoted in your telegram No. 162, July 12, noon. Ambassador is equally at loss to know precisely what Chamberlain means by “class”, and whole confusion seems to arise on that point. I think it would be best, nevertheless, if you would give Chamberlain an answer to his suggestion in which you would make clear how his words are understood here and by our delegation at Conference. This Government’s original proposal was clear and [Page 107] definite and was not subject to misunderstanding, and we should be especially careful that no confusion be permitted to arise from use of same terms in different senses by the American and the British Governments.
In regard to adjournment of Conference, I did not intend in my telegram to you to overrule our delegation’s decision, but merely to suggest to Gibson and his colleagues that we thought that if they came to an impasse or if the British Government wished to consult with Bridgeman, then an adjournment might serve a useful purpose; certainly if British Government wanted an adjournment, we should not object. At present Gibson thinks progress is being made, so there is no immediate necessity for adjournment.