500.A15A4/2604: Telegram
The Chairman of the American Delegation (Davis) to the Secretary of State
[Received November 14—9:10 a.m.]
33. Although all mention of Litvinov’s proposal for a permanent peace conference was omitted from the statement by Henderson95 it is conceivable that Litvinov may press for consideration of his project at the Bureau.
Both Aghnides and Avenol hope that it will not be necessary for the Bureau to devote much attention to the Soviet proposal. It may be however that a discussion cannot be avoided and it will therefore be useful to have an indication of your views as to the line we should take in the Bureau if necessary.
I am inclined to think that it would be preferable at least in public to base our objection on a desire not to terminate the Disarmament Conference or to take any step which could be interpreted as a loss of interest in the disarmament movement or a loss of faith in an eventual successful outcome.
I feel that the reasons adduced by Wilson in his conversation with Aubert (see Geneva telegram 936, October 4, 10 p.m.) are valid but are more capable of being used in private conversation than in public. Please answer this telegram both here and Geneva direct.
Repeated to Geneva.