500.A15A4 General Commission/299: Telegram
The Chargé in France (Marriner) to the Secretary of State
[Received 3:20 p.m.]
181. From Norman Davis. I find that neither Sir John Simon,42 Daladier nor Paul-Boncour43 will be in Geneva next week for the disarmament work as Simon cannot leave London until MacDonald’s return and Boncour cannot, as he informs me, leave here until Herriot [Page 102] leaves Washington. Further, both Germany and Italy will be represented by subordinate officials. It is therefore clear that the stage will not be set at Geneva for important decision on mature consideration of policy for a week or two.
I think it advisable for me to carry out my original plan of being in Geneva on the 25th and shall leave here tomorrow, Sunday, afternoon but consider it would be unwise for me to prolong my stay there in the absence of the chief delegates of the other principal powers. Probably all that can be done at the present time is to work out procedure. At the moment all attention here and in England is directed to Washington because of the conversations there and the monetary situation. It would therefore be futile and unwise to attempt very serious disarmament discussions in the delicate international situation now existing until the responsible representatives of the various powers are in a position to give serious attention to the matter. [Davis.]