500.A15A5/628b: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Chairman of the American Delegation (Davis)
23. In a conversation on the naval situation, the President expressed the opinion that as far as any new agreement which may be negotiated [Page 39] at the Conference as now constituted is concerned, we should still seek an agreement in the first instance within the tonnage limits in the existing treaties, with an escape clause in the event Japan exceeds her existing treaty limitations. You should, therefore, endeavor to make that your first principle as the conversations proceed. The question of cruiser tonnage increase, if insisted on, remains as previously outlined. In other words, you should seek compensating decreases in other categories.