500.A15A5 Construction/115
Memorandum of Conversation, by the Chief of the Division of European Affairs (Moffat)
The French Chargé d’Affaires, Jules Henry, called on me this afternoon to read me a telegram he had just received from Paris. This was to the effect that the French were viewing with some concern the prospect of escalation by the British and Americans following the recent Japanese note declining to communicate the qualitative nature of their future building programs. Great Britain was tied by special treaties, to which France had consented, with Russia and Germany. If Britain should now resume qualitative freedom in building, Russia and Germany might well follow suit, not to mention Italy. France would have to base her building program on action taken by Germany and Italy. She had, therefore, every interest in seeing that the proposed escalation was as moderate as possible and requested very much that before taking any final action the American Government would consult the French Government.
I replied to Monsieur Henry that no move had been made to date. We were expecting to be approached by the British Government because Great Britain must prepare her estimates by March the first. We were not under the same pressure for speed as our building situation was as follows: the present naval bill was merely an authorizing bill increasing the amount which might subsequently be appropriated for without new enabling legislation by 20% over existing levels. [Page 893] Only after this authorizing bill was passed would we ask for specific appropriations. In any event, action must be taken before May 1st when we must under the terms of the London Naval Treaty inform the co-signatories of our building plans.
Meanwhile, I could assure Monsieur Henry that before taking final action we would discuss the matter with the French Government.