500.A15A4 General Committee/325: Telegram
The American Delegate (Wilson) to the Secretary of State
[Received May 3—9:33 p.m.]
628. Supplementing my 627, May 3, midnight, the only other essential problem which arises under part II, section II, chapter I, is the provision that all mobile land guns above 155 millimeter caliber “shall be destroyed”.
There seems to have been divergence of thought on this problem namely as to what is to become of mobile artillery above the prohibited caliber. We will shortly reach a point in the debate in which we will have to be clear in our own minds as to what we can or cannot do with special reference to the provisions of article 22. In the event that we are willing to “destroy” such mobile guns above 155 millimeters the course is simple and we can agree to article 22 in its essence. If on the other hand we contemplate the eventual conversion of these guns to fixed mounts for coast defences then some amendments will have to be made to article 22 such as a provision that mobile land artillery above the permitted caliber “shall be destroyed or immobilized”.
Request that I be instructed urgently (a) to accept article 22 or (b) to offer amendment suggested.