500.A15/887: Telegram

The Chairman of the American Delegation ( Gibson ) to the Secretary of State

13. My statement made at the opening of this morning’s session was received with more cordiality than I dared hope. In fact it has already given rise to a degree of optimism that may be difficult to sustain.

Replies made by Cushendun, Sato, Massigli, Riddell and De Marinis all in friendly vein.21

Cushendun in particular paid tribute to the spirit of our proposal and while reserving opinion on the technical points he made the categorical statement that:

1.
British Government agreed with idea of reduction.
2.
It accepted idea of limitation of all categories of ships.
3.
It will give earnest study to idea of formula for naval equivalent.
4.
The significance of the Kellogg Pact cannot be exaggerated and has given a new directive to the work of Preparatory Commission.

Litvinoff22 then proved to his own satisfaction and the amusement of the Commission that every idea in my statement had already been included in his proposals.

Gibson
  1. The British, Japanese, French, Canadian, and Italian delegates, respectively.
  2. Maxim Litvinoff, head of the Soviet delegation.