500.A15A5/704: Telegram
The Chairman of the American Delegation (Davis) to the Secretary of State
120. After several days discussion within the French Government, in which the final outcome hung in the balance, the French delegation today received instructions to abandon its insistence on reducing the unit tonnage of capital ships and to accept a continuance of the Washington Treaty standard of 35,000 tons, subject to the following two conditions:
(a) That in 1940 the high contracting parties would exchange views through diplomatic channels to determine whether in the light of circumstances then prevailing and on the experience gained in the interval in the construction of capital ships, it is possible to agree to any reduction in the tonnage or gun calibre of capital ships to be laid down after January 1, 1941; (b) that the gun calibre of capital ships be provisionally fixed at 14 inches but might return to 16 inches if by January 1, 1937, all of the Washington Treaty powers have not undertaken to respect these limits as to tonnage and gun calibre of capital ships. The first condition is in line with what you have authorized us to agree to (your 41, February 20, 4 p.m.) and we therefore propose to accept it subject to agreement as to actual wording. The second condition, as now worded, is in conflict with the position taken by the Department in its 29, Jan. 29, 7 p.m. and is open to the serious objection that it would require a positive act on the part of an individual high contracting party to return to the 16-inch gun in the event that Japan should not adhere.
We have endeavored to persuade the French to accept our formula for a 16-inch gun to be reduced to 14 inches if accepted by the five [Page 85] Washington powers. After telephoning Paris this afternoon they have been instructed to refuse this and to insist upon the 14-inch limitation but are authorized, in order to meet our views, to insert a provision to the effect that the 14-inch gun is regulation upon acceptance prior to January 1, 1937, by the Washington powers. The French declare that a formula along these lines suggested by them would have a much more favorable reaction in France and, since they have met us in every other respect, insist that we should meet them to this extent. While we cannot, of course, accept the wording of the French formula as presented to us and which is quoted in section two of this cable, we believe that it is capable of a rewording acceptable to them and which would meet our preoccupations by automatically establishing a 16-inch gun in the event of Japanese nonadherence prior to January 1, 1937. In section three, we are cabling you a possible compromise draft which we think the French might be prepared to accept and on which we should like to have your instructions without delay.
The French formula for the limits of capital ships follows:
We are submitting to you the following compromise formula which should be read in connection with article 1, annex 1 of the draft incorporated in our 104, February 22, 1 p.m.,68 and if you approve, we will endeavor to get the French to accept:
- (A)
- No capital ship shall exceed 35,000 tons (35,560 metric tons) standard displacement.
- (B)
- No capital ship shall carry a gun with a calibre in excess of 14 inches (356 milimeters) provided, however, that, if any of the Washington Treaty powers should fail to undertake to conform to this provision prior to January 1, 1937, the maximum calibre for guns carried by capital ships shall be 16 inches (406 milimeters).