500.A15A4/1767: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Acting Chairman of the American Delegation (Gibson)74
Washington, March 14,
1933—7 p.m.
302. From Norman Davis. Your 564, March 13, 11 p.m. We have been appraising the various suggestions that have been advanced in Geneva for preventing the breakdown of the Disarmament Conference, which may be divided under three headings: (a) an improvised solution, (b) a limited objectives treaty, or (c) postponement in a more or less disguised form.
- (a)
- As we see it here, nothing could have more serious consequences than the failure of any new proposal designed to save the Conference, and this would seem extremely probable if the proposal were improvised or launched without adequate advance preparation.
- (b)
- Given the present French attitude, there seems good reason to fear that any attempt to seek a solution along the line of a short term treaty of limited objectives would result in failure.
- (c)
- If therefore the Germans are willing to support the procedure proposed by the Italian Delegate of having no more meetings of the General Commission or the Political Commission until after Easter, but of having the technical committees continue to function, we can see several advantages to this plan. It would give us 5 or 6 weeks breathing spell; it would presumably take care of your preoccupation lest the adjournment of the Conference be considered the equivalent of a breakdown; it would obviate the danger of any surprise attempt at solution; and it would give me more time to consult the Administration here in Washington and to discuss the outlook with you and with the principal European statesmen before reaching Geneva. [Davis.]
Hull
- This telegram bears the notation: “Approved by the President and Secretary.”↩