500.A15A4/2292: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Chairman of the American Delegation (Davis)
384. Your recent telegrams satisfy me that you are right in that in the present political crisis we must exercise especial care not to put pressure on the principal European Powers to reduce their armaments against their better judgment lest it be charged that we were assuming a moral commitment toward them. The recent speech of Sato19 is significant and should put us on our guard against finding ourselves in a position where we might have to block a disarmament agreement which would result in European appeasement by making our ratification dependent upon Japanese adherence. For these reasons we continue [Page 300] to feel that we should observe a distinctly passive role for some time to come.
In the circumstances, do you not think that an exchange of views with the President and the Department would be helpful. Your return to this country for a few weeks would also emphasize to public opinion abroad the fact that we are leaving to Europe the responsibility of continuing the European disarmament movement without American pressure. Wilson could, of course, continue to represent us at the Bureau meetings. If you agree we should of course wish that any initiative toward your return should come from you as well as recommendations regarding date of sailing.
- Delivered October 26 in a meeting of the Bureau; for summary, see Records of the Conference, Series C, Minutes of the Bureau, vol. ii, p. 191.↩