500.A15A5/255: Telegram
The Chairman of the American Delegation (Davis) to the Secretary of State
[Received November 14—11:45 a.m.]
35. I appreciate your 17, November 13, 3 p.m. which crossed my 32, November 13, 10 p.m., and see that we are thinking along the same lines. I have been taking with the British the exact line suggested by you.
In my talk with Simon yesterday I felt him out as to what their attitude would be in case, as is most probable, the Japanese reply is [Page 332] unsatisfactory and I indicated some of the dangers and disadvantages with the impending Japanese denunciation, of continuing the conversations after there is no longer hope for a satisfactory comprehensive agreement. He said he was impressed by the reasons advanced and would without committing his Government wish to think it over. He said however that since it had been so difficult to get the Japanese here at all there is a rather strong feeling in British Government circles that if the Japanese once get away they will not come again and that by keeping them here now we may ultimately get something worth while from them or at least ascertain conclusively that the Japanese are unwilling to cooperate along constructive and reasonable lines and thus clarify our own minds as to how to deal with the situation.