740.00/38
The Under Secretary of State (Phillips) to the Ambassador in Turkey (Skinner)
My Dear Mr. Ambassador: The Department has received your despatch No. 590 of March 28, 1935, regarding the European political situation, and appreciates the interest you have taken in analyzing present trends and conditions. I note particularly that in your last paragraph you express the opinion that the maintenance of peace in [Page 273] Europe could be assured only by a declaration from every European power renouncing all territorial claims for a 25 year period and that such a declaration could be successfully obtained only through the initiative of the President of the United States.
We are in general agreement with the conclusions reached by you respecting the position of the principal powers today, but I wonder whether your specific suggestion as to the prevention of war would not involve dangers which render its execution inopportune at the present juncture?
The present controversy in Europe boils down in essence to one between the “status quo States” and the “revisionist States”, a controversy which has continued in one form or other since the conclusion of the peace treaties. This Government has consistently refused to take a part in dealing with this issue, regarding it as an essentially European political problem. Any intervention on the part of the United States would necessarily involve it in, or be interpreted as, an alignment with one or the other camp and give rise to the claim that in sponsoring such a proposal the United States had given an implied promise of aid in carrying it into effect and in preventing its possible subsequent violation.
It appears doubtful, moreover, whether the States belonging to the revisionist camp would be willing to adhere to a 25 year guarantee of existing territorial settlements, since to do so would involve an abandonment of their fundamental position and an acceptance of the thesis of the “status quo” group of Powers. I fear therefore that a proposal along the lines you suggest would almost certainly be doomed to failure and might, on the contrary, still further aggravate the situation.
Sincerely yours,