500.A15A5/375
Appendix to Memorandum of Meeting of the American, British, and Japanese Delegations
Communiqué
A meeting took place at the House of Commons this afternoon, under the Chairmanship of the Prime Minister, to discuss matters connected with the adjournment of the Preliminary Naval Conversations. The following were present at the meeting:—
| United States: | Mr. Norman Davis, |
| Admiral Standley, | |
| Mr. Ray Atherton, | |
| Mr. Dooman, | |
| Commander Schuirmann, | |
| Lt.-Commander Duncan, | |
| Mr. Field, | |
| Mr. Reber. | |
| Japan: | Mr. Matsudaira, |
| Vice-Admiral Yamamoto, | |
| Mr. S.Kato, | |
| Captain Iwashita, | |
| Mr. Mizota. | |
| United Kingdom: | The Prime Minister, |
| The Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, | |
| The First Lord of the Admiralty, | |
| Admiral Sir Ernie Chatfield, | |
| Sir Warren Fisher, | |
| Vice-Admiral Little, | |
| Mr. Craigie. |
At the end of the meeting the following communiqué was issued.
The naval conversations, which were started last June, and, after a recess, have been proceeding since October 23rd, are agreed by the representatives of all three Governments to have served a useful purpose. These conversations, which were initiated under the London [Page 273] Naval Treaty of 1930, became broadened in scope in the light of proposals and suggestions subsequently made. Every aspect of the naval problem has been discussed between the parties frankly, fully and amicably. It was never the purpose of these preliminary conversations to reach any hard and fast conclusion: the sole purpose was to prepare the ground for future negotiation and agreement. The French and Italian Governments, who were also signatories of the present naval treaties and were associated with the discussions in the summer, have been kept informed of all developments.
Although the three Governments represented in these conversations are in favour of a continuation of naval limitation with such reduction as can be agreed upon by all the Powers concerned, the principle and methods for achieving this in the future remain to be determined. Now that the respective views have been made known and fully discussed, the conversations have reached a stage when it is felt that there should be an adjournment in order that the delegates may resume personal contact with their Governments and the resulting situation can be fully analysed and further considered. It has therefore been agreed to adjourn the conversations at this point.
The Governments concerned in the London conversations will keep in close touch with each other and with the other Governments which are parties to the London and Washington Naval Treaties. The adjournment will also give His Majesty’s Government in the United Kingdom an opportunity for further consultation with the Governments of the Dominions. It is hoped that, in view of the preparatory work accomplished during the conversations which have already taken place, the situation will so develop as to justify a subsequent meeting as soon as the opportune moment arrives. In that event the Government of the United Kingdom which initiated the present conversations, will take the appropriate steps.