500.A15A5/670
The Under Secretary of State (Phillips) to President Roosevelt
Dear Mr. President: Under instructions the French Ambassador called upon us to make an appeal with regard to a reduction in tonnage of capital ships. His instructions, moreover, authorized him to take the matter up with you personally, which, however, he does not feel it necessary to do.
Our suggestion is contained in the accompanying instruction to Davis,56 which, with your approval, I would like to read to de Laboulaye. In this way we would be steering the negotiations away from Washington and back to London, where they belong.
Faithfully yours,
- Telegram No. 40, February 20, 3 p.m., infra. ↩