711.4112Anti-War/22: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in France (Herrick)49
122. I understand that as a result of inquiries by France and England the several interested Governments are considering whether they shall refer to a commission of legal experts representing the principal Locarno signatories, Japan and possibly the United States the question whether the American draft anti-war treaty is compatible with the League Covenant, the Treaties of Locarno, et cetera. I can see absolutely no necessity for any such conference. I am certain that [Page 48] such a proposal would meet with no popular sympathy in the United States and I hope you will do all you can to discourage the adoption of any such plan.
I am also informed that the British Government understands from a report received from the British Ambassador at Washington that I have expressed a willingness to attend a meeting in Europe of the several Foreign Secretaries to discuss the proposed anti-war treaty. I am at a loss to know upon what the British Ambassador can have based such a report. I have never even contemplated going abroad to discuss or negotiate the treaty. Such a conference of Foreign Secretaries seems to me both unnecessary and undesirable and I hope you will take any favorable opportunity to discourage the adoption of any such proposal. The position of the United States is clearly set forth in its notes and in the draft treaty it has proposed. The position of Germany is no less clearly indicated in its unqualified acceptance of the American proposal. If the United States and Germany can determine their respective positions on this important subject without an international conference, I can see no reason why the British, French, Italian and Japanese Governments cannot do likewise.
Repeat to Berlin as Department’s 49.
- The same telegram was sent to Japan as No. 53.↩