550.S1/733: Telegram

The Secretary of State to the Chargé in Great Britain (Atherton)

97. If Mr. Davis has already left London, I hope you will find an opportunity to convey the following message from me to the Prime Minister.

Our suggested tariff truce is not intended to imply that the comparative level of present tariffs is reasonable as between the various nations nor is it intended to prejudge the basis of future negotiations in any way whatsoever. The purpose is to prevent the friendly spirit of the Conference, which is so essential to the success of the Conference itself, from being imperiled by action which might disturb the existing situation. As it is impossible to foretell how long a time [Page 594] may be needed to reach agreements that would relieve international commerce from the present encumberances and as it would not be reasonable to ask nations to forego their sovereign rights for an indefined period, it is suggested that the truce should hold from now until the end of July, by which time it would be possible to judge the prospects of a more permanent agreement.

Hull