500.A15a3/1523: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Great Britain (Dawes)
112. Reference is made to your No. 123 of April 27, 6 p.m. Can it be rightly supposed that the counterproposal which the British are making to the French is not likely to be accepted? Could you state whether the committee in London has considered the idea of rewording the March 1 Bases of Agreement so as to limit the laying down of tonnage rather than to limit completion of tonnage? Under this plan the agreement would terminate in July 1935. You may know whether such an arrangement has been considered. I would not wish you to appear to offer any such suggestion, as of course I cannot tell whether such an arrangement would be feasible.