793.94 Conference/152: Telegram
The Chairman of the American Delegation (Davis) to the Secretary of State
[Received 1:35 p.m.]
8. Your 14, October 30, 4 p.m. It is not possible for me to judge yet as to the possible practicability of a procedure following the lines indicated. I think that we must wait until I have exchanged views with the other delegations, ascertain what they have in mind and observe developments during the early stages of the Conference.
It is possible that the use of such a resolution including the appointment of such a committee might finally prove to be the most practical method of ultimately bringing about an agreement but if suggestion of that procedure were made prematurely I fear that it would be construed as an indication of a defeatist attitude and as a maneuver to kill and bury the Conference. I therefore feel that we should not give at this stage any indication that we have any thought of such a procedure for, as I understand it, it is our function to endeavor to accomplish something constructive; we should not suggest or direct attention to a possible method of bringing the Conference to an end until there has first been made a concerted effort to make the influence of the Conference felt and to take any steps possible toward that objective.
As to the suggestion contained in your 549, October 25, I have thought, as indicated in my 2, October 29, that it would be better to have Belgium do this. While Belgium is agreeable to the suggestion I made they think it advisable to consult the British because some officials of the British Government have in answering the attacks of the Opposition rather indicated that this Conference did grow out [Page 133] of the League resolution although Eden in his speech of October 21 indicated that it is to be an independent conference under the Nine Power Treaty. In view, however, of Japan’s reply to Belgium basing her refusal to attend largely on the ground that the powers had already cast reflections on Japan and are not in position to act as impartial mediators, I doubt whether it would have much if any effect to pass any resolution on the subject of the origin of the Conference.
However, the Department’s suggestions under reference will have our constant consideration. Meanwhile, on the basis of the last paragraph of the Department’s instruction of October 18 and in the light of the views which the President expressed to me at Hyde Park49 and of soundings which I have thus far made, my present tentative view of a possibly practicable procedure for the Conference is somewhat as follows:
(1) Plenary session in which the delegates express their Governments’ views respectively as to objectives, et cetera.
(2) China state her case before the full Conference and then perhaps step aside.
(3) Create a ways and means committee to consist of powers other than China and Japan.
(4) Decide as to inviting Japan to attend the Conference.
(5) If Japan is again invited and by some given date has not accepted, consider possible next steps, such as, (1), to direct both sides to agree to mediation, and (2), preparing, if that be refused, a proposal for a cessation of hostilities, (3), perhaps asking Japan what her intentions are, and (4), organizing a committee to formulate a possible general plan for submission as a basis for settlement by agreement.
When the Conference has gotten under way and at an opportune moment it might become expedient to consider resorting to a resolution and procedure such as outlined in your telegram under acknowledgment.
The above is, however, all tentative.