550.S1/731: Telegram
The Chargé in Great Britain (Atherton) to the Secretary of State
[Received May 7—11:15 p.m.]
106. From Norman Davis. I am reliably informed that the Foreign Office spokesman in his conference with the press yesterday stated that it was most difficult for Great Britain to agree to the suggested recommendation for a tariff truce as long as the American currency is unstable and it might become necessary to take emergency measures to protect the Empire market from American goods. He added that members of the Government here are awaiting in utmost interest President Roosevelt’s address Sunday night1 because it might give some indication of his intentions in the matter of inflation and war debts. He added that if these indications were reassuring the British Government may conceivably be willing to agree with reservations to the recommendations of a so-called tariff truce.
This simply goes to show that in so far as concerns the British the tariff truce is becoming more definitely tied up with some assurance or action on the debts. [Davis.]
- For text, see Department of State, Press Releases, May 13, 1933, p. 333.↩