500.A15a3/457: Telegram
The Ambassador in Great Britain (Dawes) to the Secretary of State
[Received 8:50 p.m.]
360. Your telegram No. 326, December 3, 1 p.m. First, I think that you are wholly right. In the second place, the Prime Minister said to me during our conference this afternoon at 5:45 that nothing will be settled concerning methods of procedure without first consulting you and no method of procedure will be suggested which does not have your approval. A paraphrase of your message was left with him at his request, and he will prepare an answer to it which I shall forward when received. The Prime Minister agrees with what you say in every respect and understands the danger which exists on account of the coming juxtaposition of political motives and individual vanity in the Conference with malevolent elements among the press representatives. Do you not think that it would be better to have no fixed program as to Conference methods in advance of the arrival of the leaders? It would then be possible for the leaders to discuss methods on the day before the opening of the Conference and to arrange that the first plenary meeting devote itself to organization and division into committees for the work of the Conference, thus eliminating all but a short opening statement by the chairman previously submitted to the leaders of the delegations, similar to what was done in the case of our first committee of experts in 1924 in Paris. MacDonald feels that the matter of speeches could be controlled if he could see Briand, although it would be better to abandon them entirely; he is not so sure of Tardieu however. It would be useful to create; if possible, a public impression by departing from the conventional through having the Conference convey an evidence of the earnestness of the powers represented and of their determination to indulge not so much in declamation as in constructive work. However, MacDonald is dealing in this situation with those first in authority in the different countries and an appearance of dictation must be avoided even in methods. The Prime Minister’s mind is open and I would suggest that you freely express yourself as to anything which under the circumstances you deem wise. MacDonald has under consideration a personal letter to Briand for the purpose of bringing about a discussion of this matter between the two of them. It is, as you say, essential above all else that there should be no possibility of individuals on the delegations taking public stands early in the Conference. This may not be difficult to arrange unless there is an underlying desire on the part of some of them that the Conference should not succeed. The advisors of the Prime Minister have told him that the speeches [Page 295] of the opening session would probably be of a very general nature, to wit, “agin sin” and for peace. He fully realizes however that he has no control over the delegations and that, since “the reason for the ass’ bray is that the ass is built that way”, accidents may happen.