500.A15A4 Plenary Sessions/6½
Memorandum of Trans-Atlantic Telephone Conversation30
Castle : We want to have correct to give out here what you are going to say. Do you hear me?
Gibson : Yes. I have already telegraphed it in full as I read it to the Secretary.
Castle : All right that is fine. Let us take up your different points. No. one is all right.
Gibson : Check.
Castle : No. two is all right.
Gibson : Check.
Castle : No. three is all right. But in connection with that Hugh, the Secretary wants you to refer to page 13 of his letter of guidance to you. And in there it says, there is one possibility that might present itself to the Conference which was to seek a proportionate reduction in the aircraft carrier category because no nation is built up to its limit and what we want you to do is to strike out that clause.31
Gibson : Strike out.
Castle : Strike out the clause that talks about proportionate reduction in aircraft carriers.
Gibson : I haven’t said that.
Secretary: That is in the instruction. I do not believe in giving up any of our spare tonnage in the aircraft carrier category. You have not said so yet but I have been alarmed you might get to it.
Gibson : No I won’t.
Secretary: I don’t want to give it up. I should fight against it.
Castle : Point four is all right.
Gibson : Check.
Castle : No. Point five we do not like. Will you take down this language: “We will join in formulating the most effective measures to protect civilian populations against aerial bombing.” Now substitute that for what you have.
Gibson : In place of five.
Castle : Yes, in place of five.
Castle : Now six. We stand with Miss Woolley on that.
Gibson : Good, I am glad you do.
Castle : Stop after “bacteriological warfare.” Now seven. You want to add at the end the following: “We advocate as I have already stated the computation of the number of armed forces on the [Page 25] basis of the effectives necessary for the maintenance of internal order and additional increments necessary for defense.” That is all right so far. Add to that Hugh as explaining it—“The former are obviously impossible of reduction. The latter is a question of relativity[”]. Number eight is all right.
Gibson : Check.
Castle : No. nine is all right. We have consulted both the Chief of Staff32 and Chief of Naval Operations33 and they say that is all right. That will calm your military people.