550.S1/590: Telegram
The Chargé in Great Britain (Atherton) to the Secretary of State
[Received April 2—1:30 p.m.]
68. Personal from Davis. Anxiously awaiting a reply to my message to you with regard to agreeing on June 1st as the date for convening Economic Conference. Unless I can let Simon know promptly he will not be able to arrange meeting of Organizing Committee before Easter holidays. This would mean that a date later than June 1st would have to be chosen in view of prior notice which must be given to other states.
In my talks with MacDonald and Simon, they have made it quite evident they have no thought of changing place of Conference. My impression also is that MacDonald rather hopes he may end his political career in a blaze of glory as chairman of a successful World Economic Conference and that he would most probably oppose and perhaps resent any effort, at least on our part, to have it transferred [Page 480] from London to Washington. Realizing that there is a considerable sentiment, particularly on the part of France and certain other European powers, to have the Conference transferred to Washington, I tried to feel MacDonald out by referring to this but he brushed it aside. As nearly as I can gather the moves which are being made with a view of having the Conference held in Washington instead of London are prompted by two motives and considerations. First, France and particularly the smaller powers friendly to her are still somewhat resentful over the British effort to force its disarmament proposal34 upon them and are hopeful of curbing the British influence. They argue against London on the ground that the international conferences held in London have not been successful; second, they also believe that if Washington has the responsibility of making the Conference a success and avoiding a loss of prestige by failure, the United States would be more willing to cancel the debts as the price of success of the Conference. In substance it would seem that their desire to have the Conference in Washington is not due to any friendship for us but to the belief that they can put us in a hole and get more out of it for themselves and incidentally strike at the British for their attempt to force their kind of a settlement on Europe. [Davis.]