500.A15A5/729: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Chairman of the American Delegation (Davis)
80. For the Delegates. Your 146, March 19, 4 p.m. Confirming telephone conversation of March 20 for your record, it was the President’s thought to have you both write a letter to the British Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs between now and your departure from London thanking him for the courtesies extended to the Delegation by the British Government and expressing the pleasure and satisfaction you have had in your association with the British Delegation during the conference. You could incidentally mention the fact that although the new treaty does not provide quantitative limitations such as provided in the former naval treaties, it is the intention of this Government to avoid, at least as between the British and ourselves, any competition in naval construction; that parity as between the fleets of the British Empire and the United States has become a well-recognized and established principle acceptable to both Governments and that the conditions and circumstances which determine their respective naval requirements are such that the naval policies of the two Governments should continue to be based on the principle of parity and that it is believed that adherence to this principle will contribute to the furtherance of friendly relations between the two Governments and to world peace.
The Secretary for Foreign Affairs could reply to your letter embodying expressions similar to those regarding competition in naval construction and parity. In this manner the exchange of communications would be contained in private correspondence which there would be no call to make public and the reference to these subjects would be incidental in your letter of appreciation to the British Secretary and his reply.