500.A15A5/628a: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Chairman of the American Delegation (Davis)
20. I thought it might interest you to have some of my impressions and reflections on the present stage of the Naval Conference.
I have been very pleased to see that the Conference is showing every indication of endeavoring to speed up its work and to confine its agenda to at least reasonably important points upon which early agreement may be possible.
The general impression here resulting from the situation created by the withdrawal of the Japanese is not unfavorable to our position. Your statement of our position has been well received and to my mind entirely covers the ground as far as the attitude of the United States is concerned.29
There has been some skepticism expressed with regard to continuing the conference without the Japanese. This I do not share, but I am under the impression that our interest in the Conference has become considerably lessened by the withdrawal of the Japanese, and therefore that the interests concerned from now on will be European and that the questions discussed from now on are of primary importance to the continental nations and Great Britain and particularly the latter. If I am correct in this impression, it follows that, to a corresponding extent, we should not take a leading part in the activities of the Conference, but should rather continue as a friendly and responsive participant without taking the lead and leave the initiative to other powers.
I am sure you are fully aware of the sentiment now present in the country against involvement in European affairs and I think it would be well therefore not to take any steps which might be construed as indicating a desire or willingness on the part of our Government to take any unwarranted initiative in European questions.
- Statement made on January 15 to the Naval Conference; for text see Report of the Delegates of the United States …, p. 222, or Department of State, Press Releases, January 18, 1936, p. 89.↩