500.A15A5/622: Telegram
The Chairman of the American Delegation (Davis) to the Secretary of State
[Received January 16—9:50 a.m.]
55. It is reported that Senator Pittman26 has made a statement to the effect that future efforts to limit naval armaments are futile and that it is manifest that Japan is withdrawing in order to institute a naval race.
The general consensus here is that Japan is not intending to start a naval race and that aside from the political situation in Japan which forced the Government to take the unreasonable and unwise position it did they seem to have had in mind only the building of relatively small craft such as submarines and destroyers since they realize that they could not possbily keep up in any race in the heavier ships. It also seems clear that they had not envisaged the possibility of the other powers continuing without them and that this is disturbing them very much. I therefore think that in spite of the difficulties of formulating a comprehensive naval treaty for naval reduction or limitation without Japan it is highly important for the other naval powers to show that they can proceed without Japan. If an agreement between them should result it is all the more likely that Japan will react and seek some means for getting in again, that she will be less likely to start a naval race and that if she does it will be easier to cope with it if the other naval powers are acting more or less in agreement as to their respective building programs to counteract what Japan is doing. An escape clause to solve any contingency would of course be provided. I am convinced that this is the best way to deal with the Japanese situation and certainly there is no risk or disadvantage to us in attempting to do so.
If you wish I suggest you show this message to Pittman.
- Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.↩