550.S1/786: Telegram
The Ambassador in Great Britain (Bingham) to the Secretary of State
[Received May 19—7:24 a.m.]
136. Department’s 114, May 16, 4 p.m. I have received the following communication dated May 18th from the Prime Minister for transmission to the President:
“My Dear President, thank you for your message to me of the 17th [16th?] May.
I should like first to send you my congratulations on your statement, and in particular to thank you for the support which you give to my disarmament proposals.
As regards the Economic Conference, my colleagues and I are hard at work on the preliminary arrangements. I share to the full your desire for expedition. Much will depend on the atmosphere in which the Conference is launched, but with the best will in the world I do not see how we can hope for conclusions to be reached in 8 weeks. As you know, some 60 nations will be represented, and they will probably all wish to take part in the preliminary discussions. I intend to see that practical discussions in committee are pushed forward with all speed, but we must not sacrifice efficiency to speed, and the Conference will be of little value if it merely agrees to generalities, and then parts without committing itself to practical proposals. My colleagues and I will bear in mind constantly the wish which you have [Page 610] expressed, but I am regretfully sure that 8 weeks is too optimistic an estimate. You know how much I personally want to see the end of it.
I am yours very sincerely, (signed) J. Ramsay MacDonald”.