500.A15A4/1179: Telegram

The Acting Chairman of the American Delegation (Gibson) to the Secretary of State

277. Wilson and I have had two conversations with Matsudaira and Sato in the last few days. They fear that their Government will feel that the worst reduction of fleets bears more heavily on the weaker than on the stronger powers in spite of the unchanged mathematical ratio.

They had been under the misapprehension that the President’s proposal covered the abolition of land bombardment aviation only and were greatly relieved and interested to learn from us that the prohibition on air bombardment and the abolition of bombers applied equally to naval forces.

You may feel it wise to apprise the Ambassador in Tokio of this misapprehension as it may be mentioned to him.

Gibson