500.A15A5/466: Telegram
The Chargé in France (Marriner) to the Secretary of State
[Received August 22—3:30 p.m.]
722. My 717, August 20.57 Talked this morning with Bargeton58 and Massigli59 concerning the French point of view on the naval question with reference to their note communicated to London. It was felt that the reasons why the question should be considered primarily on a qualitative basis only was that this would lessen the range of subjects to be discussed should the powers meet in October and make possible some agreement at that time, whereas if the quantitative question was likewise injected there would be practically no possibility of arriving at any conclusions. Furthermore, it was the opinion of the French that quantitative questions would not become acute for some years after existing treaties cease to operate in view of the time it would take for any naval construction. Moreover, if one could satisfactorily settle the types of the vessels to be laid down there would be time for a gradual evolution aided by publicity and an exchange of programs which would produce in practice a quantitative level that might eventually be embodied in agreements.
Massigli did not know whether the Germans had been approached on this subject by the English commensurate with Anglo-German naval negotiations but thought that it was not unlikely. He said also the present situation made it dubious whether England and Italy could sit down at the same table in October.