793.94 Conference/235: Telegram
The Chairman of the American Delegation ( Davis ) to the Secretary of State
[Received November 15—7:15 a.m.]
34. For the President and the Secretary. Your 60, November 12, 8 p.m. I agree with you that the Conference should continue in existence for some time, subject, however, to a recess to start in a week or 10 days and to reconvene either at some fixed time or upon a call by the Chairman or upon the request of a number of participating governments. The consensus of opinion now is that since it is not possible to agree upon a small working committee it would be better to have no committee at all. If there were to be a large committee [Page 186] it would probably have to include all the original signatories including Italy and possibly Russia and there is a very strong opposition here to either or both of them.
I agree that it would be a mistake now to give any impression of failure and that it should be understood that during the recess the governments concerned will continue to occupy themselves actively with the Far Eastern problem. For this reason I am considering that it might be well for us not to rush home too quickly but to remain in Europe say a week or 10 days after the recess is taken because the more Japan feels that we may be conferring in Europe the better will be the psychological effect. As to this I would appreciate your judgment.
We have already incorporated in the declaration upon which the Conference is to act tomorrow many of the points mentioned in the last paragraph of your telegram and those that have not been covered can no doubt be included in the resolution that will be adopted before we recess.
However, if that resolution contains nothing more concrete I fear that it would be generally construed as an anti-climax to our work, if indeed it did not give aid and comfort to Japan. For instance Eden told me yesterday that while he was much in favor of the declaration which it is hoped will be adopted tomorrow morning in reply to the Japanese note, he was quite concerned about the effect on public opinion and also upon Japan if, when we meet again at the end of next week, we are unable to do anything more than make another similar even though more complete declaration.
I realize that the United States would probably not be in a position to enter into an agreement with other countries for participation in carrying out most of the measures indicated in paragraph C of my 24, November 10. I envisaged this not in terms of an agreement but in terms of a common declaration of individual policies. I also felt that since we have on two former occasions proclaimed the nonrecognition policy and have entered into treaties to that effect there would be no difficulty in participating in a resolution affirming it. We all believed it would be desirable to do so and that in order to make this policy more effective it should be supplemented by a declaration against government loans and credits and encouragement of private loans and credits.
We are strongly of the opinion that the Conference should adopt such a resolution and earnestly recommend your approval to my supporting such a proposal.