500.A15A5/256: Telegram
The Chairman of the American Delegation (Davis) to the Secretary of State
[Received November 14—12:55 p.m.]
36. Personal for the President and the Secretary. One of the arguments heard frequently in Parliamentary circles, particularly among a younger Tory group who are really not conversant with the present naval problems and discussions, but have a none too friendly bias towards the United States, is that while they recognize the value of Anglo-American cooperation, every time American press reporters telegraph that the British are not in full support of United States policies, “the string is pulled from Washington” and some member of the British Cabinet gets up and on a public occasion repeats as a fundamental British thesis the desirability of Anglo-American cooperation, to which there is no response from America. I should not refer to this if it were not a trouble of somewhat long standing, more especially since there rarely comes back here from America a statement by a correspondingly high official of the United States Government recognizing the importance of Anglo-American cooperation in seeking world stability.
Any utterance from the President or high Administration official in a public address at this time that might be considered as an indication of the lines upon which the Administration is in favor of cooperation with Great Britain would do a great deal to remove all grievances and to obtain new friends. The recent speech of Smuts72 [Page 333] or the broadcast by Simon73 to the United States might give an opportunity for some statement if you should think it advisable that something be done along the lines indicated.