760F.62/11176/10
Memorandum of Trans-Atlantic Telephone Conversation Between the Ambassador in the United Kingdom (Kennedy) and the Under Secretary of State (Welles)
Mr. Welles: I am giving you a message from the President. He asks if you will see Mr. Chamberlain as quickly as possible and tell him that the President is considering making a reply to the message which he received from Berlin last night. In his reply he is considering doing two things. The first of them is to supplement the existing negotiations, should it be thought desirable, by the holding of a conference of the nations directly interested, immediately, in some neutral European capital.
Mr. Kennedy: What countries?
Mr. Welles: The countries directly interested. He will not specify which they are. The second point he has in mind is to make a direct appeal to the man who sent him the message last night and to limit the message to that man and no one else. He would like to know whether Mr. Chamberlain would consider that step helpful and any [Page 679] other suggestions as to mechanics or methods which the President might refer to in his message tonight which might be helpful.
Mr. Kennedy: I will get in touch with him right now.
Mr. Welles: Will you call me back.
Mr. Kennedy: I’ll call you right back. I imagine he has just gone out. Did you hear the speech? It was a very moving speech.
Mr. Welles: Please ask that this be kept entirely personal and confidential.
Mr. Kennedy: Yes.