500.A15A5 Construction/141
The Secretary of State to the British Ambassador ( Lindsay )45
Excellency: With reference to Article 25 of the Naval Treaty signed in London on March 25, 1936, I have the honor to notify Your Excellency, in accordance with paragraph (2) of that Article, that the Government of the United States of America finds it necessary to exercise the right of escalation reserved in paragraph (1) and of effecting a departure from the limitations and restrictions of the Treaty.
The proposed departure relates to the upper limits of capital ships of sub-category (a) and to the calibre of guns which may be mounted on capital ships of sub-category (a).
The above action is motivated by the fact that upon the receipt of reports to the effect that Japan is constructing or has authorized the construction of capital ships of a tonnage and armament not in conformity with the limitations and restrictions of the Treaty, the Government of the United States addressed an inquiry to the Japanese Government and the Japanese Government did not choose to furnish information with regard to its present naval construction or its plans for future construction.
Since there is no separate diplomatic representation of Australia, New Zealand, or India at Washington, there are enclosed copies of this note which you are respectfully requested to transmit to these governments.
Accept [etc.]
- Identic notes, except for the final paragraph, were sent on the same date to the French Ambassador and the Canadian Minister; the same text was telegraphed to the American Ambassadors in Italy and Japan to be communicated as a matter of courtesy to the Governments to which they were accredited.↩