793.94 Conference/165: Telegram
The Acting Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Japan (Grew)57
282. Your 515, November 2, 11 p.m., and Department’s 279, November 2, 2 p.m.58 At the press conference today the Acting Secretary referred to the reports that came through early yesterday afternoon in regard to Mr. Eden’s speech in the House of Commons and stated that he regretted particularly that the early reports should have come through in a form which gave rise to considerable misinterpretation of what was actually said; that it was alleged that Mr. Eden had said that the United States Government had taken the initiative in convoking the Nine Power Conference; that when we received the official text of his remarks it was found that what he said was that the United States had taken the initiative in suggesting where the Conference should be held; that the initiative as to the convocation of the Conference came from the group of signatories of the Nine Power Treaty members of the League of Nations; that after they had reached a decision to suggest the convoking of the Conference, the United States Government, as one of the signatories, in accordance with its treaty obligations, expressed its willingness to attend such a Conference for the purposes envisaged in Article 7 of the treaty; that our purpose in going to the Conference is to share in the common task of finding, within the provisions of the treaty and in accordance with the principles which we have repeatedly reiterated, some pacific solution of the present situation; that on October 6 the British Government very courteously advised us of the initiative that had been taken with regard to the convoking of the Conference and inquired of us what our views might be as to the place for holding the Conference; and that in entire accord with our purpose in going to the Conference we suggested that in our opinion Brussels would be a very happy place for holding the Conference for reasons which are obvious.