500.A15a3/1194: Telegram
The Chargé in France (Armour) to the Secretary of State
[Received 11 p.m.]
339. From Gibson and Wilson. It seems to be clear that British, French, and Japanese Governments have, at best, misunderstood your suggestion in that all of them have taken it to be in the nature of a protest to France against the completion of the French naval building program for 1931, as it was sketched in this Embassy’s telegram No. 324, October 14, 5 p.m.
We called this morning on the British Ambassador, who had received instructions to investigate truth of report regarding the 1931 program with a view to making representations protesting it, but who had raised vigorous objection on the ground that to do this would do more harm than good. We explained to the Ambassador that the reference to the 1931 building program of France in the conversations which took place in Washington was not a determining factor but was merely an additional reason why it would be well that any action contemplated should be taken before existing situation was aggravated either by the discussion at the session of the Preparatory Commission or by the announcement by France of a building program which might no longer leave that Government in position of a free agent in deciding its future course.
We went on to explain that the possibility of such an announcement had come to your attention only after you had come to a decision on your general plan. We then outlined fully to the Ambassador the nature of my statement made in conversation with Tardieu.
Tyrrell said that this gave an entirely different aspect to the whole matter; that he felt that it was a wise course to pursue; and, to my astonishment, he seemed to feel that there was considerable chance of Tardieu’s receiving it favorably. In this connection, Tyrrell suggested laying stress on two points: (1) That we were not questioning France’s right to build within the limits of the Treaty of Washington, and were confining our suggestion to auxiliary craft, thus meeting the needs of the British as far as MacDonald was concerned; and (2) that we propose to urge the Italian Government to postpone effort to obtain a diplomatic victory on the question of naval parity.
Tyrrell said that the Japanese Ambassador had come to call on him, and, although not very communicative, had given him to understand that he had received instructions from Tokyo similar to those which Tyrrell has received from London; that the Ambassador had [Page 149] questioned the wisdom of acting upon them and had notified Tokyo of his views. Fortunately both Ambassadors had put off taking action until the situation had been clarified.
The British Ambassador said that a message from London had been received this morning stating that by evening he will probably receive a communication which he is to make to the French Government. We assume that he will inform his Government of substance of our conversation with him and will express himself satisfied as to wisdom of the course proposed.
Next we called on the Japanese Ambassador. It was evident that he was not at all familiar with the subject, and from the very meager instructions he had evidently received from the Japanese Foreign Office he had been unable to obtain any clear view of the situation.
We explained the matter fully to him. He asked us many questions, finally making a memorandum of the several points embodying a clear understanding of what our aims are. Then he said that he would present the matter along lines similar to our own, although I think that his statement will be more of a formal communication than an informal discussion of the problem. We believe that the matter has now been clarified satisfactorily with both the British and the Japanese Ambassadors.
Gibson goes to Brussels this afternoon so as to stop possible conjectures on the part of the press as to the reason for his continuing to stay in Paris. He will return here on Monday morning as he has an appointment to see Tardieu in the afternoon at 5 o’clock; this date is the earliest opportunity offered, as the Premier is fully occupied today in receiving the French aviators, Coste and Bellonte; and Briand is ill. Gibson will leave for Rome on Tuesday afternoon. Wilson will remain in Paris at least until Gibson has left.