500.A15A4 General Committee (Arms)/159: Telegram
The American Delegate (Wilson) to the Secretary of State
[Received March 21—2:10 p.m.]
1020. Captain Deleuze, French delegate, has discussed with me the following problem.
Deleuze feels that it is improbable that there will be obligations existing as to navies after 1936, hence both Germany and Japan will be free to build as they please. France and Great Britain in respect to Germany, and Great Britain and the United States in respect to Japan, will not be troubled as much by the amount of construction as by the type of construction. For instance, Japan might suddenly embark upon a program of 14,000–ton 10–inch gun pocket battleships which would upset existing standards. What is needed, according to Deleuze, is timely information in advance of such construction. Would it not be possible then to provide, in connection with the “préavis” of the French proposal (see my 996, February 28, 7 p.m.60) that the contemplated construction of naval craft should be announced to the Permanent Disarmament Commission sufficiently far in advance as to allow of parallel construction by neighbors? The advance notice would be given in such a way that particulars as to type would be known at a given period before the laying down of such vessels. Furthermore, the advance notice might vary in length in accordance with whether capital ships, cruisers, destroyers, et cetera, were in contemplation.
Deleuze feels that such a system has the advantage not only of permitting state (B) to undertake in good time the construction to meet construction by state (A) of vessels of a given type and number but also to discourage state (A) from undertaking such construction since the advance notice would destroy any surprise effect. In addition such a system might act as a brake upon a naval race after 1936 [Page 37] and also possibly produce a slowing down of construction for replacement of over-age vessels.
Deleuze has talked to Admiral Ruspoli and Admiral Bellairs61 and both seem to regard the project sympathetically, Bellairs having returned to London to discuss it. Deleuze is anxious to find out from us if we would be favorable in principle to such an idea.