500.A15/948: Telegram
The Chairman of the American Delegation ( Gibson ) to the Secretary of State
[Received May 6—11 p.m.]
42. Reference to Department’s telegram No. 24, May 4, 4 p.m., transmitting text of British Embassy’s memorandum of May 3.27
The allusion in the memorandum to the impressions gained from us with regard to “mind and purpose of the President” refers obviously to the statement made informally in conversations with Cushendun to effect that President Hoover attaches great importance to finding a reasonable and sensible solution for present differences between ourselves and Great Britain.
Regarding British apprehensions as to just what the next step in the procedure will be, I think it would suffice to state that I have made it quite apparent that the United States felt that independent studies by the various naval powers should be the next move in the matter.
In answering informal British questions regarding just what further information the American Government may be willing to give them concerning the character of the American suggestions, you may be sure that I have made no statement whatever which would prejudice the Department’s complete liberty in answering any such questions which it should deem to be most desirable, though I have not thought it appropriate to close the door to any overtures which they have thought best to make.