500.A15 a 1/482b: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Chairman of the American Delegation (Gibson)
63. The press of Great Britain is evidently trying to impress the British public with view that their Government are seeking economy in advocating small cruisers. Daily Mail says that if the Conference breaks down it will be clear to world that it was brought about not through British intransigence but by ambitions of the United States to build a big navy. While I do not wish to interfere with any amicable discussion which you may be having at Geneva, I shall nevertheless be compelled, if this sort of thing continues, to say publicly that Great Britain is the only country which is seeking a large naval program carrying with it an enormous increase in cost; that this Government offered to restrict total tonnage of cruisers to 250,000 to 300,000 tons and is still willing to accept this restriction, but that the British demand practically twice that amount; that with each country given a total tonnage limitation there is no economy whatever in building small cruisers but an increase in expense instead; that Great Britain can construct as many small cruisers as she wishes, but that this Government does not wish to construct a large number, not only because they are unsuitable to our needs but also because they are more costly. If Great Britain wishes to build such a size navy she is at liberty to go ahead and do it without a treaty. The United States views the Conference as one for naval limitation, not for naval expansion, and will insist on right to equality in the Navy with any other power.