500.A15A4 General Committee/571: Telegram
The Acting Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Great Britain (Bingham)
212. Your 224, July 27, 5 p.m.1 Davis has seen your telegram and suggests that you inform Eden that he is ready to return to Europe just as soon as there is any indication that the Powers concerned, particularly Great Britain and France, are ready to proceed with the Disarmament negotiations.
Davis is somewhat confused by conflicting information received as to the procedure, and the desire to tackle the problem. For instance, some 2 weeks ago the attitude of the French as reported to him was that in order to avoid any complaint by the Germans because of delay and also in order to prepare for the reopening of the Conference, conversations should be held during the balance of July by Henderson and also perhaps between the French and the British, which Henderson [Page 206] would probably insist upon, and then resumed at the beginning of the second week of September starting with a continuation of the Anglo-American-French conversations. The French were informed that this procedure would be agreeable to Davis. Later, Henderson informed Marriner4 that he saw no reason for separate Anglo-French conversations.
Although Davis is not in a position to judge of the desirability of Anglo-French conversations, he was in hopes that if they are to take place, it could be earlier than September 18th, as after this, it may be necessary to have talks with the Germans and the Italians in order to prepare the way for the opening of the Conference, and the time would be very limited. If, however, the Anglo-French conversations should take place Davis will be glad to be present if it is desired, and if it is felt that his presence would in any way be helpful.
Mail cipher copy to Amembassy, Paris.