500.A16/290

The British Embassy to the Department of State

Aide-Mémoire

Recent reports in the United States press regarding the policy which will be followed by Mr. Norman Davis on his return to the Disarmament Conference at Geneva included one published in the English press to the effect that there is “good reason to believe that the United States Government is now prepared to accept a scheme for the supervision and control of armament manufacturers by a joint international commission on the lines proposed by France”.

In this connection His Majesty’s Government recall that when the French proposals for (1) supervision and (2) control of armaments were presented to the Disarmament Conference the United States Delegation indicated general support but were opposed to the application of any special measures to the private manufacture of armaments.6a

Mr. Osborne7 is instructed to enquire whether there is any change in the policy of the United States Government on these two questions.

  1. See telegram No. 688, June 6, 8 p.m., from the Chairman of the American delegation, p. 185.
  2. Francis D. G. Osborne, British Chargé.