500.A15A4/1768: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Acting Chairman of the American Delegation (Gibson)74
303. Your 565, March 13, Midnight. Please talk over with Premier MacDonald the point of view expressed by Norman Davis in the previous telegram and emphasize the importance which we all feel here of a further meeting of minds through private conversations between [Page 41] the British, French, Germans, Italians and ourselves. While we recognize the Prime Minister’s preoccupations in the present difficult situation, could he not find a way out by announcing that in view of the character of the problems which remain to be settled before the Conference proceeds, he is convinced that he should utilize the interval for further discussions, and in particular with Norman Davis, who is coming to Europe shortly as the representative of President Roosevelt?
You may assure Mr. MacDonald that Mr. Davis has no set plan or panacea for the Conference, but is anxious to explore with him in the first instance the possibilities that either of them may have envisaged for saving the situation. We feel that the best hope we can see to this end is a close collaboration between Great Britain and America with a view to working out if possible plans for a further joint effort. In the event Mr. Davis should meet the Prime Minister in London, he would want either Gibson or Wilson to come up from Geneva.
- This telegram bears the notation: “Approved by the President and Secretary.”↩