500.A15a3/1226: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Italy (Garrett)70
98. For Gibson. Your No. 105, November 2, 1 p.m. In view of what appears to be Italian reluctance to take any decisive steps, the fact that France has been drawing closer to Britain as far as actual figures go might make desirable the suggestion to the French of [Page 168] issuing a unilateral declaration on basis of figures acceptable to the British, with proviso that the terms of the declaration would be observed up to 1936, unless some other power’s actual naval construction should render alteration in the program necessary; in other words, a declaration along lines of article 21 of the Naval Treaty. By this course the onus of the situation would be put firmly on Italy, and as any change in the French figures would be based on Italy’s actual construction, it should be quite as acceptable to the signatories of the Naval Treaty as the “escape” clause itself of that treaty. Also, such an act on France’s part, not involving an agreement with Italy, should not meet, it would seem, with any difficulty in the French Parliament. I should be willing, if you think the step desirable, for you to go to Geneva by way of Paris and talk over this possibility with Tardieu. As to informing Grandi that such a possibility might be considered, use your own discretion.
It seems to us that to obtain an agreement for proper armament levels by France is the most important item, and that it would be a pity to have the efforts to that end nullified by wave of what seems to be professional pessimism on the part of the Ambassadors concerned, the Foreign Offices, and the press.
- Repeated to the Ambassador in Great Britain for his information as telegram No. 285.↩