500.A15Franco–British/6½
President Coolidge to the Secretary of State
[Received August 4.]
My Dear Mr. Secretary: I have your wire relative to the British naval proposals. What I desire to have done in relation to these at present is nothing at all. I shall be back in Washington within a few weeks and we can take the matter up at that time. I would not have you even ask the British Government for any explanation of the proposals which they have made. Let the entire matter stand in abeyance. I note that you say, “I shall make no commitments whatever concerning the limitation of armaments and while abroad shall not even discuss it or any other question.” That is exactly the correct position, which your good judgment as usual causes you to take. I do not especially like the meeting that is to be held in Paris.38 While it is ostensibly to sign the treaty, I can not help wonder whether it may not be for some other purpose not yet disclosed. Of course, so far as this Government is concerned, it will neither discuss nor decide any other question of any kind or nature at the Paris meeting.
We had a nice visit with Mrs. Kellogg when I went to Cannon Falls, and she and her sister called at the Lodge the day before yesterday.
With kindest regards, I am [etc.]
- i. e., meeting of the signatories to the treaty for the renunciation of war.↩