500.A15 a 1/52: Telegram
The Ambassador in Great Britain (Houghton) to the Secretary of State
[Received February 25—4:55 p.m.]
48. Department’s No. 39, February 21, 6 p.m. In pursuance of your instructions I saw Chamberlain this afternoon and repeated the substance of your message to him. He then asked whether I would object to asking him if the British reply were ready. I said that I would not and made the inquiry. He then handed me the draft of the British reply, as follows:18
“His Majesty’s Government in Great Britain received with cordial sympathy the invitation of the Government of the United States of America to take part in a conversation at Geneva on the further limitation of naval armament.
The view of His Majesty’s Government upon the special geographical position of the British Empire, the length of interimperial communications, and the necessity for the protection of its food supplies are well known and together with the special conditions and requirements of the other countries invited to participate in the conversation must be taken into account.
His Majesty’s Government are nevertheless prepared to consider to what extent the principles adopted at Washington can be carried further either as regards the ratio in different classes of ships between the various powers or in other important ways. They therefore accept the invitation of the Government of the United States of America and will do their best to further the success of the proposed conversation.
They would, however, observe that the relationship of such a conversation to the proceedings of the Preparatory Commission at Geneva would require careful adjustment.”
Chamberlain then said that this reply could not be made public here until February 28, 4 p.m. The delay was occasioned by delay in receiving answers from two of the Dominions, which, however, would be favorable. He wishes, therefore, that the reply be withheld from publication until the above-mentioned date. I assured him that his wishes in that regard would be strictly respected.
He then remarked that he had received communications from the British Ambassador at Washington to the effect that Italy’s reply might be subject to reconsideration. It was Chamberlain’s opinion that the Italian Government would not like to permit a great conference of the sort proposed to be carried on without having Italy represented on it, provided that special consideration of Italy’s geographical position was assured. He thinks that if this point were [Page 23] emphasized it might be possible again to approach the Italian Government and to obtain favorable reply, at least to extent of having an observer at the Conference. He said that it was in this way that Italy gradually pushed her way in at Locarno, and that it was only after the treaties were definitely framed that Italy desired to become a party.19 He thinks that in present instance a similar result might follow.