500.A15A5/293: Telegram
The Chairman of the American Delegation (Davis) to the Secretary of State
[Received November 30—4:45 p.m.]
55. This afternoon Matsudaira called to bring me abreast of his recent conversations with the British. The Japanese Government, he said, had not yet come to a final conclusion on the “middle course” proposals of the British, but had instructed him to inform the latter that Japan was prepared to continue to explore the possibilities of agreement along the lines of what the British had suggested. He had brought up in discussion the possibility of a long-term treaty which would embody the principle of equality that was a part of the British formula. The naval construction programs to be annexed to the treaty would be fixed, however, for a five-year period only, as Japan, while recognizing that her proposal for a common upper limit would not be found acceptable, and while she was not expecting to reach that limit for years to come, if ever, did not wish to commit herself indefinitely to principle of an inferior ratio.
Simon, who was absent from London yesterday, has asked that I see him tomorrow.