500.A15A4/1023: Telegram
The Ambassador in Great Britain (Mellon) to the Acting Secretary of State
[Received May 10—3:05 p.m.]
166. From Gibson. At Embassy’s suggestion I called informally upon Vansittart this morning and talked to him about the resumption of conversations referred to in Embassy’s telegram 165, May 10, 2 p.m. I told him that the more I reflected on our conversation of yesterday with Simon the more I was convinced that there was nothing to be gained by working out possible solutions of the Franco-German problem in advance of the conversations, that our greatest usefulness lay in being present in a friendly capacity and facilitating the approach to these difficult problems, and that it might be definitely harmful if it were thought we had any preconceived ideas as to how these problems could be solved. He expressed himself as agreeing with this point of view and said that he would talk the matter over with Simon before our meeting on Thursday.
Vansittart said that he was rather discouraged as to the prospects of success in Geneva and felt that one difficulty lay in the fact that the program was too all-inclusive and that perhaps the best hope now lay in setting a limited objective for the Conference, such as some achievement on qualitative disarmament, if that proved practicable, possibly some regional agreements on effective[s?] and finally some small percentage cut in budgets on the basis of, say, the last 5 years. This budget cut he felt ought not to be difficult as most governments had already made such a cut or would be obliged to do so under stress of economic necessity, but that embodying [Page 120] such a cut in the treaty would have a much better effect on public opinion than if it were omitted.
Will Department please repeat to the Secretary if considered of sufficient interest. [Gibson.]