500.A15A5/722: Telegram
The Chairman of the American Delegation (Davis) to the Secretary of State
[Received March 16—4:15 p.m.]
141. Craigie has just told me he was authorized to inform me in the strictest confidence at a meeting of the British Cabinet this morning it was decided to sign when necessary the supplemental naval treaty with Germany. He also told me they see no reason now why Great Britain, France, and the United States should not proceed to sign the proposed treaty which we should have ready by the end of this week or the early part of next week.
He said there might be some necessary delay in signing the treaty with Germany, since Germany has so far insisted that Russia be bound to the limitations of the general treaty through an Anglo-Russian treaty and that Russia has not yet given a definite reply but that if for this or any other reason they were unable to sign with Germany now, he thought we should sign the three-power treaty anyhow and provide therein for an escape in case the supplemental treaty with Germany is not signed during this year and before ratification.
I explained to Craigie that while we are prepared to sign or initial a treaty now, it must be with the understanding that we cannot give any promise or hold out any hope that it will be ratified this year; because of the advanced stage of the present legislative program and the short remaining time before the adjournment of Congress, the President would not feel justified to commit himself in any way to submit the treaty for ratification during the present session or to get it ratified before the end of this year.
Craigie said they had realized that the longer the delay in getting the treaty signed the less probable would it be that it could be ratified by us now and he regretted there had been so much delay. Although they quite understood that on account of the difficulties indicated our ratification this year could not be counted upon, they thought it would be most advisable if we could possibly get it ratified before January which must be done because of the effect it would have upon Japan. He, nevertheless, accepted our position gracefully and we then discussed what modifications or additions in the treaty would be required to cover the gap from January 1 to April 1, 1937, in case of a delay in ratification.
Craigie also told me in confidence that the Irish Free State had just decided not to sign the naval treaty, not because of any objections to the treaty itself but because Ireland is an independent state which at [Page 95] present has no navy whatever and that the Union of South Africa might for the same reason refrain from signing. Australia, New Zealand, and Canada have, nevertheless, approved and will sign.