500.A15a3/1207: Telegram
The Chargé in France ( Armour ) to the Secretary of State
[Received October 28—1:40 p.m.]
343. From Gibson. The Japanese Ambassador, Yoshizawa, asked Wilson to call this morning and told him that he had seen Berthelot [Page 156] last night and, in accordance with instructions, had asked Berthelot whether the French-Italian naval discussions were making any headway. Berthelot gave him a negative reply, whereupon Yoshizawa stated that the Japanese Government felt uneasy about the situation because good relations might be endangered by failure to reach agreement and invocation of article 21 of the London Treaty might be rendered unavoidable. Berthelot then stated that as long as Italy insisted on parity he could see little hope. The Japanese Ambassador inquired whether he could not envisage some means by which the deadlock might be broken, to which Berthelot replied that in his opinion the only way was for the United States, Great Britain, and Japan to consult with France with a view to fixing a level in auxiliary craft which would be satisfactory to parties of the London Treaty and to France. The Italian problem would be much simpler, he added, if this could be accomplished.