500.A15A5/599
The Secretary of State to President Roosevelt
My Dear Mr. President: It is obvious that the Japanese have no intention of accepting any agreement in London which will not recognize their demand for parity with the American and British navies and it seems perfectly clear to me that there is very little use in continuing the discussions too long in London in the face of this apparently fixed attitude of the Japanese Government. I am attaching hereto, therefore, a draft of a telegram to our Delegation in London2 which I would like to submit for your consideration.
This draft has received the approval of the Secretary of the Navy and the Acting Chief of Naval Operations, and, if you concur in its sense as now drafted, I shall be very glad to send it forward as soon as you may let me know that it meets with your approval.3
Faithfully yours,