798.94 Commission/474: Telegram
The Ambassador in Great Britain (Mellon) to the Secretary of State
[Received October 28—7:55 a.m.]
312. From Davis. With further reference to your 269, October 14, 6 p.m., I think it is logical for the British to take the lead in cooperation [Page 316] with France and Italy at least insofar as any action by the League is concerned in determining a constructive course of action in dealing with the Far Eastern situation and the Lytton report. However, I feel that there may be some danger in leaving it too much to their initiative. While the British, or at least MacDonald, Simon and also Vansittart, seem more disposed than ever to stand with us I am not as yet quite so sure of Baldwin. I am fairly well convinced that Baldwin, who considers Anglo-American cooperation of primary importance, and realizes now that the objective of the two countries in respect of the Far Eastern question is not widely divergent, would be inclined to support any policy that we can agree upon beforehand but I do not feel that he is sufficiently interested actually to formulate a definite policy and take the lead. It is, of course, a difficult and delicate question. I feel morally certain that we should avoid taking a lead which would place the onus upon us and that we should not be advising 54 other nations what to do but if we expect England and France to advocate or support a constructive course of action I really believe we must talk it over with them frankly and confidentially so that they will know that the procedure which they are supporting is approved by us. I fear the British are just a little too lukewarm to take a vigorous lead and induce the French to go along with them but feel that without our appearing in the matter we could, by conferring with British and French, help them to decide upon a wise course.