500.A15 a 1/485: Telegram
The Chairman of the American Delegation (Gibson) to the Secretary of State
[Paraphrase]
Geneva, July 26,
1927—5 p.m.
[Received July 26—1:40 p.m.]
[Received July 26—1:40 p.m.]
116. Several alternative naval arrangements may be proposed should we fail to arrive at a complete accord with the British and Japanese. The following have been hinted at on numerous occasions:
- 1.
- That the United States enter into a two-power arrangement with either the Japanese or the British;
- 2.
- That cruisers should be unrestricted and an agreement negotiated covering only the two categories of submarines and destroyers;
- 3.
- That small cruisers shall be unrestricted and restriction placed upon 10,000-ton cruisers;
- 4.
- That an arrangement based on building program up to 1931 might be negotiated.
Am not sympathetic towards any of the above proposals and have given no indication that I am. Therefore, unless I receive instructions to the contrary, I shall assume the attitude that the United States is only concerned with an arrangement which would be general enough to comprise all categories of naval craft.
Gibson