500.A15A4 Steering Committee/298: Telegram
The Acting Chairman of the American Delegation (Gibson) to the Secretary of State
[Received February 10—10:10 a.m.]
531. The declaration made by United Kingdom, France, Germany and Italy in article 3 of the Five Power Declaration of December 11, [Page 11] 1932,23 appears again as “one” under part 1 of draft proposals by United Kingdom delegation Conference Document 154.
Several delegations commented during recent discussion of French plan and at yesterday’s meeting of the Bureau to the effect that any such “solemn affirmation” not to resort to force should not be limited to European states. It therefore seems to us quite likely that the question may shortly arise of the inclusion of the United States and other non-European countries in such an affirmation.
You will note that the statement in British draft proposals is an “affirmation” and not a “reaffirmation” as expressed in the Five Power Declaration. In this regard please see third, fourth and fifth paragraphs of Wilson’s 483, December 10, 1932, 3 p.m.24
I should appreciate your guidance by telegraph.
- Foreign Relations, 1932, vol. i, p. 527.↩
- Not printed. For text of British draft proposal, see “Memorandum of the Five Power Conversations at Geneva,” Annex J, ibid., p. 525.↩