Office of the Historian

793.94 Conference/17c: Telegram

The Secretary of State to the Chargé in the United Kingdom (Johnson)

Washington, October 13, 1937—2 p.m.

418. Please inform the Foreign Secretary that I am impressed as he is with the importance of the Nine Power Conference and of the necessity of having a strong delegation there.

I am happy to note that Mr. Eden will presumably represent Great Britain. Mr. Eden will appreciate the practical impossibility for me to absent myself through such a long period, especially with the Congress assembling. The President has, therefore, decided to send in my stead Mr. Norman H. Davis to represent the United States.

Please request Mr. Eden to regard the foregoing as confidential until an announcement is made.

We are becoming concerned at the delay in the determination of place and date and believe it is having a harmful effect. We hope the British Government will be able to remove quickly the apprehension of the Belgian Government.

Hull