500.A15A5/504: Telegram
The Ambassador in the United Kingdom (Bingham) to the Secretary of State
[Received October 10—3:42 p.m.]
508. Last evening Foreign Office requested Atherton and Anderson to call today to receive a communication from Craigie. Danckwerts also present. Craigie reminded that all statements and observations made in these discussions were of course tentative, particularly in view of the changing and undefined European situation.
Craigie then referred to the tentative suggestion previously reported in my 478 of September 27, 5 p.m. that after 1936 England and the United States each construct two capital ships of present allowed maximum characteristics, and thereafter reduce gun calibres to 14 inches. He stated that upon reflection the British had come to the conclusion that by doing this the naval situation might be saddled with a competitive renewal of the construction of 15-inch or even 16-inch guns which it might not be possible subsequently to arrest.
Craigie stated that therefore the following was the British view:
First, that, subject to American and Japanese concurrence, there should be no new United States, British or Japanese construction whatever with guns larger than 14 inches but that the first two capital ships could be of the present allowed individual maximum displacement; second, that the British would urge the French and Germans to [Page 124] keep down to 14-inch calibre the guns of the capital ships they are now building, although it was too late to get the Italians to do this; third, that if this could be accomplished there would then be only two post-treaty capital ships in existence with guns larger than 14-inch, that is, the Italian ones, but if it could not be accomplished, there will then only be two such vessels for each of the three countries, Italy, France and Germany; fourth, that, in any event, all capital ships subsequent to the two now buiding or scheduled in each of the three before-named countries should be limited to 14-inch guns.
Craigie emphasized that this communication to us was very confidential and if disclosed would weaken their hand in pressing the French and Germans to keep down to 14-inch guns. The British stated that while they acquiesce that each of the first two capital ships to be built by each of us should be of present allowed maximum tonnage, they hope that later ones can be of less tonnage according to their views previously expressed.
The British observations this morning as elaborated by them have cleared up the British view regarding two definite points mentioned in Department’s No. 261 of September 19, 6 p.m. Danckwerts stated, referring to tentative building programs discussed when Admiral Standley was here, that figures mentioned by the First Lord and Admiral Standley were illustrative only, and both Craigie and Danckwerts today made it clear that at the present moment, particularly with the Japanese attitude undefined, it is the British view that it is impracticable to discuss any quantitative limitations now, even such as building agreements, but stated their belief that when the time for such discussion came Britain and America would have no difficulty in coming to a satisfactory mutual agreement.
The British also made it clear that the Admiralty is definitely opposed to the principle of limitation in number of major calibre guns in capital ships, particularly as Danckwerts added the United States seemed not likely to agree to more than two or three thousand tons reduction in capital ship displacement. As an academic illustration mention was made of the fact that the Nelson class have as few as nine major calibre guns and it ensued from the exposition of the British view that the British are not interested in a limitation by the number of guns of a number even as small as nine. In other words, the British Admiralty evidently cannot concur in the advisability of that general method of limitation.
As indicating progress made toward arranging a naval conference this year, the British stated that the Italian Ambassador had recently confirmed that Italy will send delegates for bilateral talks with the British with a view to a conference this year. Craigie stated no definite advance had been made in getting the French to come to bilateral talks but that he believed when a date for the conference was set the [Page 125] French would send delegates for preliminary bilateral discussions. Craigie indicated that there was no recent official information from the Japanese replying to representations he had urged the Japanese Chargé d’Affaires to make to his Government, that is, as to whether the Japanese will come to the naval conference.
The British asked us whether we had received instructions enabling us to state the American viewpoint regarding various questions raised at our former discussions. They were told no. For the Department’s convenience, the subjects of previous requests for instructions are here recapitulated, viz.: age of capital ships, British proposal 26 years; also minimum size for capital ships, British proposal 20,000 tons; also maximum characteristics for aircraft carriers, British memorandum proposed 22,000 tons, 6.1-inch guns.