793.94 Conference/165a: Telegram
The Acting Secretary of State to the Chairman of the American Delegation (Davis)
24. I hope you will understand how reluctant I have been to suggest the changes indicated in the text of your address.50 I have, however, talked the matter over both with the President and with the Secretary, and they believe that the suggested amendments are desirable. Your address will very largely determine public opinion in this country as to our whole policy with regard to the Nine Power Treaty Conference and since it will be in effect the keynote of the Conference, it will be a determining factor in crystallizing public opinion in other countries. For that reason only, it seemed to us here desirable to be sure that no phrases or sentences in your address, no matter how logical and desirable they might be if read in conjunction with the rest of the address, could be lifted out of their proper context and thereby given a wholly erroneous interpretation. Please telephone me if you still feel that any of the modifications we have suggested should be omitted.
- Original draft of address and revisions, as cabled, not printed. For final text, as delivered November 3, see Foreign Relations, Japan, 1931–1941, vol. i, p. 404.↩