500.A15A4/1022: Telegram
The Ambassador in Great Britain (Mellon) to the Acting Secretary of State
[Received May 10—2:45 p.m.]
167. From Gibson. Embassy’s telegram 166, May 10, 6 p.m. This afternoon I had a conversation with Malcolm MacDonald in order that the Prime Minister might be informed as to the purpose of our visit in conformity with the Secretary’s instructions. He said that he would have an opportunity to talk to his father tomorrow, would tell him of our conversations thus far and let me know if there was anything the Prime Minister had to suggest. Malcolm MacDonald said [he] was sufficiently familiar with his father’s views on this subject to feel sure he would be in favor of pressing the conversations forward as soon as some responsible French representative could participate. It does not now seem probable that the Prime Minister will be in a position to deal with disarmament questions until after the Lausanne Conference2 so that arrangements would have to be made for someone else to represent this country.
Please repeat to the Secretary. [Gibson.]