Office of the Historian

500.A15a3/1665

Mr. Augusto Rosso to Mr. J. Theodore Marriner

Washington, November 18, 1931.

My Dear Marriner: With reference to the conversation I had with you this morning I enclose herewith copy of the Revised Draft of October 16th, as promised you.

With kind regards [etc.]

Rosso
[Enclosure]

Revised Draft of October 16th40

Suggested Compromise for Bridging Gap left by Divergent Interpretations of the Bases of Agreement of March 1st, 1931

1.
The Bases of Agreement of March 1st, 1931, shall be interpreted in accordance with the provisions of paragraphs 2–4 below. Subject to this, the said Bases of Agreement shall remain unaltered.
2.
Within the period between 1st January, 1931, and 31st December 1935, France and Italy may lay down tonnage which may be completed before 31st December 1936 and also tonnage which may be completed after that date, provided that the total tonnage laid down in all the categories of ships mentioned in the Bases of Agreement does not exceed within that period of five years the average figure of 32, 282 tons in the case of France and of 31,016 tons in the case of Italy. Of this total of 161, 409 tons for France, not more than 57, 409 tons shall consist of vessels in the light surface craft and submarine categories. Of the total of 155,080 tons for Italy, not more than 51,080 tons shall consist of vessels in the light surface craft and submarine categories.
3.
After December 31st, 1935, France and Italy will have full liberty to lay down tonnage in the categories of ships not limited by the Treaty of Washington, except to the extent to which limitations may result from the decisions of the Naval Conference which is to meet in 1935 or of any other earlier conference.
4.
Irrespective of the provisions of paragraphs 2 and 3 above, France and Italy retain their right to carry out their 1930 naval programme.
5.
It is understood that nothing in the preceding paragraphs prejudices the right of the Members of the British Commonwealth of Nations to have recourse, if necessary, during 1936 to the increases mentioned in Article 21 of the London Naval Treaty.
  1. Drawn up jointly by Craigie and Rosso; communicated to the French Government in a letter dated November 11 from Craigie to Massigli.↩