500.A15A5/62: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in France ( Straus )
202. For Norman Davis. Following telegram50 sent to Bingham today:
“You may inform the Foreign Office that we will accept their invitation to participate in preliminary and exploratory conversations on naval problems arising from the forthcoming conference in 1935. Our idea is that in order to prevent any feeling that these conversations were in the nature of a ‘preliminary conference’, they should be carried on in the form at least of normal diplomatic interchanges heading up through the two Embassies and the Foreign Office in London. While we share the idea of the British Government to give as little publicity as possible to the conversations, we question whether they can be kept entirely secret and suggest some form of announcement by the British Government which will refer to the fact that diplomatic conversations will soon be held, but they will only deal with procedural questions and with the technical naval aspects of the problem. Mr. Davis will be prepared to proceed to London some time around mid-June, depending partly on developments in the General Commission at Geneva. Rear Admiral Richard A. [H.] Leigh and Commander T. S. Wilkinson, both of whom are members of the Disarmament Commission, will be available for technical advice.
“Please telegraph (a) if and when Japan accepts British invitation to preliminary conversations; (b) whether it is agreeable that the conversations be held through diplomatic channels; (c) whether the [Page 240] British favor our suggestion of a brief announcement of the purposes of these conversations and if so, when the announcement will be made. Please send to Paris for the information of Norman Davis the texts of all pertinent telegrams to and from the Embassy since Friday May 18.”
After considerable reflection, I have reached the conclusion that it would be a mistake to commence any talks with the British prior to June 15, the date of the next payment due. Feeling is running high on this subject and might color the approach to the unrelated subject of naval problems. I think it would be best accordingly for you to defer arrival in London until after June 15, which will be rendered easier by the fact that Leigh and Wilkinson cannot sail before June 6. Subject to your confirmation, Field51 also stands ready to sail on June 6 to meet you in London.