500.A15A4/2600: Telegram

The Chairman of the American Delegation (Davis) to the Secretary of State

25. My 19, November 1, 10 p.m. Wilson returned from Paris last night. He informs me that the precarious situation of the French Cabinet rendered it impossible to take up with the Ministers the question of a separate treaty for the manufacture of and trade in arms. [Page 176] He did, however, talk both with Massigli91 and Aubert, both of whom showed entire sympathy with the project. If any difficulty is to be anticipated from the French it would appear to be more in the line of wishing unduly to complicate the proposed treaty than from reluctance to enter into such treaty. Wilson emphasized the advantage of making the treaty so simple that it could be quickly written and accepted and could thus mark within a reasonable period a definite achievement, and he believes that they were both impressed by this argument. Ambassador Straus has been fully informed.

Wilson also talked with Rosenberg, Soviet Chargé d’Affaires, and explained the situation to him. Rosenberg, while not raising definite objections to a special treaty, insisted on the Litvinov proposal that the Conference should be abandoned and the work turned over to a “permanent peace commission” which would deal primarily with threats to peace. Wilson indicated to him his own views as to the difficulties that such procedure would raise with us. Rosenberg is taking the matter of the special treaty under advisement and will communicate subsequently the views of his Government.

During the coming weeks it would be helpful to us both if you could indicate whether in a general way you approve the type of treaty which the delegation has suggested.

Copy to delegation Geneva.

Davis
  1. René Massigli, French delegate; Assistant Director of Political Affairs, French Foreign Office.