500.A15A4 General Committee/375: Telegram
The Chargé in France (Marriner) to the Secretary of State
[Received 7:10 a.m.]
213. From Norman Davis. Please deliver the following message to the President:
I had not attempted sooner to offer suggestions with regard to the possible content of a declaration on disarmament because I had not felt the time had yet come when such a statement could be made to produce the maximum effect. Hitler’s decision to address the Reichstag presumably on the subject of disarmament and the deadlock at Geneva has now altered this situation. The next few days may be crucial in the whole disarmament work and hence it may be advisable for a statement to be made in the very near future.
There seem to me to be two alternatives.
[Page 141]- (1)
- —To make a statement not later than Tuesday, that is, before Hitler makes his speech on Wednesday in the hope that a clear statement of American policy may take the wind out of his sails and lead him to take a more reasonable and conciliatory attitude.
- (2)
- —To wait until after his speech and the replies which the British and the French will undoubtedly make and then to endeavor through our statement to clear the atmosphere and find a basis for reconciling the conflicting viewpoints which these various statements will almost inevitably bring about.
I am inclined to the view that a statement by the President prior to Hitler’s speech would have the maximum effect and might prevent an irreconcilable breach.
If a statement is not made by the President before Hitler speaks it may be important and perhaps necessary to make a statement of our position at Geneva in the event that the British and French statements in reply to Hitler are made at the Disarmament Conference when it reconvenes on Thursday.
With these considerations in view I am preparing and will telegraph tomorrow afternoon, so as to reach you Monday afternoon, a statement of our position as I see it. If you think it would be desirable for you to make a statement prior to Hitler’s speech I hope this draft or some of the ideas in it will be of use to you. If you should consider it preferable to withhold a statement until a later date or to deal with the matter in a different way I should appreciate your judgment as to the advisability of my making a statement at the Disarmament Conference on the lines of this draft if it becomes necessary for me, as your representative, to explain our attitude and policy on disarmament in the light of the developments. [Davis.]