GENERAL PARTICIPATION OF THE UNITED STATES IN THE WORK OF THE FIFTH SESSION OF THE PREPARATORY COMMISSION FOR THE DISARMAMENT CONFERENCE-Con. Date and number Subject Page 1928 Dec. 10 (81) Dec. 15 (107) Dec. 17 (123) Dec. 17 (109) Dec. 28 From the Ambassador in Belgium (tel.) Opinion that a meeting at the present time would be harmful; feeling that suggestion of a limited agenda from which naval matters are to be excluded is of questionable value; belief that a meeting should be avoided as it will probably only embitter relations between United States and Great Britain; opinion that decision practically rests with Germany, the only League member now urging a meeting, and Italy. To the Minister in Switzerland (tel.) Preference for postponement of meeting, but belief that attitude expressed by President Coolidge to the press-that disarm ment question is under League and would have to be carried on irrespective of U. S. views, that United States has never ind cated desire for postponement, and is always ready to cooperate with Commission-should prevail. (Instructions to repeat to Ambassador Gibson.) From the Minister in Switzerland (tel.) Information from Secretary General of League that Great Britain, France, and Germany agreed to advise Commission Chairman to call meeting between the 8th and 15th of April; his desire for unofficial expression by Secretary of opinion as to convenience of these dates. 261 262 263 To the Minister in Switzerland (tel.) 264 Instructions to advise Secretary General that U. S. Government is prepared to send delegates at any time. From the Minister in Switzerland 264 Receipt of notification from League that next session of REJECTION BY THE UNITED STATES OF THE FRANCO-BRITISH COMPROMISE PLAN FOR NAVAL LIMITATION 1928 July 31 (358) From the British Chargé Terms of Franco-British compromise plan for naval limitation (text printed), which it is hoped will promote general agreement and thus render fruitful the resumption of discussions in the Preparatory Commission for the Disarmament Conference. To the British Chargé 264 Aug. 2 266 Request for explanation of certain provisions in the note of Aug. 2 From President Coolidge (tel.) 267 Instructions to make no commitments concerning limitation of armaments. Aug. 2 (180) To the Chargé in Great Britain (tel.) 267 Transmittal of text of note sent to the British Chargé on August 2, with instructions to discuss with Foreign Secretary the various points covered therein. GENERAL REJECTION BY THE UNITED STATES OF THE FRANCO-BRITISH COMPROMISE PLAN FOR NAVAL LIMITATION-Continued Date and number 1928 Aug. 3 To President Coolidge (tel.) Aug. 3 Aug. 3 Assurance that Secretary will make no commitments concerning limitation of armaments; explanation that he is simply asking British Government to explain certain provisions in order that proposal may be discussed intelligently with the Navy. To President Coolidge Report on extent of action which has been taken thus far in matter; intention to make no reply to the British note until British answer is received and the whole subject has been studied and submitted to the President. To President Coolidge (tel.) Information that no commitments have been made, that Department has simply asked for meaning of certain clauses, and that full report has been sent by mail. Intention to make no reply until subject is studied and submitted to the President. From President Coolidge 268 270 Aug. 3 270 Desire that nothing at all be done in relation to British proposals at present, not even inquiry for any explanation of proposals; information that matter can stand in abeyance until the President's return to Washington. Aug. 3 From the French Chargé 271 Terms of the Franco-British compromise plan for naval limitation (text printed); hope that U. S. Government may be able to give its approval. Aug. 4 (178) From the Chargé in Great Britain_(tel.) 272 Conversation with the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs concerning Franco-British compromise plan, in which oral answers were given to the points mentioned in Secretary's telegram No. 180 of August 2. Aug. 10 (184) Aug. 10 Aug. 11 (380) From the Chargé in Great Britain (tel.) Information that Acting Foreign Secretary gave assurance that press had misinterpreted Franco-British compromise plan as a definite, fixed agreement upon which the two Governments would stand even in opposition to the other members of the Preparatory Commission; his explanation that British Government has only been interested in making progress toward the solution of Preparatory Commission problems. From the British Acting Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs to the British Chargé in Washington (tel). Explanation of the aims of the British and French Governments in reaching their naval limitation proposal; instructions to read this telegram to the Secretary of State at earliest opportunity. From the British Chargé Presumption that, as the American Chargé made the same inquiries in London as contained in the Secretary's note of August 2, the Secretary is already in possession of the requested information. 273 275 278 GENERAL REJECTION BY THE UNITED STATES OF THE FRANCO-BRITISH COMPROMISE PLAN FOR NAVAL LIMITATION-Continued Date and number Subject Page 1928 Aug. 11 (255) Sept. 12 (201) Sept. 14 (104) To the Ambassador in France (tel.) For Marriner, Chief of the Division of Western European Instructions to send copy to Embassies in Great Britain (Footnote: Sent also to Embassies in Germany, Italy, and Japan on August 22.) From the Ambassador in Great Britain (tel.) Report that atmosphere is clearing in regard to FrancoBritish naval proposal; summary of present situation, including understanding that Italy has notified the Foreign Office of inacceptability of agreement as it stands; suggestions as to U. S. answer. To the Ambassador in Italy (tel.) Opinion that the United States would never agree to provision for limiting only cruisers carrying 8-inch guns and leaving unlimited all cruisers carrying less than 8-inch guns; instructions to discuss matter informally with Foreign Office and ascertain Italy's attitude if possible. Sept. 18 (92) From the Ambassador in Italy (tel.) Sept. 22 (105) Sept. 25 (329) Sept. 26 (439) Information from Under Secretary that Italy has not replied to either France or Great Britain regarding naval proposal; his desire to facilitate an exchange of views between the Italian and U. S. Governments. To the Ambassador in Italy (tel.) Telegram from Premier Mussolini to the Italian Ambassador (text printed), stating intention to wait before answering Franco-British proposition, and instructing that the matter be discussed with the Secretary of State. Informal statement to the Italian Ambassador of the Secretary's objections, which will be submitted to the President. To the Chargé in France (tel.) Note for Foreign Office (text printed) submitting suggestions concerning provisions of Franco-British naval limitation agreement as summarized in Embassy's communication of August 3, and advising that unfortunately the agreement appears to fulfill none of the conditions which, to the U. S. Government, seem vital. (Footnote: Instructions to repeat to London for delivery, mutatis mutandis, to British Foreign Office. Information that the two notes were delivered on September 28.) From the British Chargé 278 278 280 280 281 282 286 Notes exchanged between British and French Governments (texts printed) which led up to the Franco-British compromise. Textual changes in U. S. note for French Government, occasioned by receipt from both Governments of texts of the notes exchanged. (Footnote: Sent also, mutatis mutandis, to the Ambassador in Great Britain.) 291 GENERAL APPROVAL BY THE SECRETARY OF STATE OF HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION FAVORING THE ABOLITION OF SUBMARINES BY ALL NATIONS To the Honorable Stephen G. Porter Page 291 Suggestion that House resolution concerning submarines (text printed), be amended to express opinion of Congress that submarines be abolished and their construction prohibited by all the nations of the world. SPECIAL COMMISSION FOR THE PREPARATION OF A DRAFT CONVENTION ON THE PRIVATE MANUFACTURE OF ARMS AND AMMUNITION AND OF IMPLEMENTS OF WAR, SECOND AND THIRD SESSIONS 1928 July 17 (72) From the Minister in Switzerland (tel.) Aug. 9 (276) Aug. 27 (1) Aug. 28 (1) Aug. 29 League circular of July 15 (text printed) announcing that second session of Special Commission will open at Geneva on August 27 with provisional agenda covering drafting of a single text for draft convention. To the Minister in Switzerland Instructions for participation as American representative; Inquiry whether the Department draft limits "civil air- To the American Representative on the Special Commission (tel.) [Undated] Preliminary Draft Convention With regard to the supervision of the private manufacture and publicity of the manufacture of arms and ammunition and of implements of war, submitted to the League Council by the Special Commission. 292 292 301 301 303 303 Sept. 10 (584) From the Minister in Switzerland 311 (L. N. Report on second session of Special Commission held 1201) GENERAL SPECIAL COMMISSION FOR THE PREPARATION OF A DRAFT CONVENTION ON THE PRIVATE MANUFACTURE OF ARMS AND AMMUNITION AND OF IMPLEMENTS OF WAR, SECOND AND THIRD SESSIONS-Continued Subject From the Minister in Switzerland (tel.) Information that next session of Special Commission will be held on December 5; desire for detailed comment from the Department on stand taken by delegation during last session as reported in despatch No. 584 of September 10. To the Minister in Switzerland (tel.) Instructions to report any developments which may have taken place in direction of ending deadlock and whether there is greater prospect of an agreement at forthcoming session. From the Minister in Switzerland (tel.) Lack of evidence that situation has altered. Suggestion that, as it is unlikely any tangible results will come from forthcoming meeting, the Department may wish to consider advisability of informing Secretary General that the U. S. Government feels its presence might impede achievement of some form of agreement among other delegations; observation that this course would entail some risk that attempt will be made to blame a failure on part of Commission to U. S. nonparticipation. To the Ambassador in Belgium (tel.) From the Ambassador in Belgium (tel.) Page 314 314 315 316 Request for views concerning next session of Special Commission. 317 Opinion that if United States nonparticipation in meeting might be taken as a refusal to cooperate in arms limitation, then the United States should be represented, but that representation should be reduced to a minimum. Nov. 21 (260) To the Ambassador in Great Britain (tel.) 317 For Wilson, Minister in Switzerland: Information that two instructions have been sent to Berne, one approving his position at last session, and the other designating the Minister as U. S. delegate to attend third session. Νον. 22 (354) To the Minister in Switzerland 318 Approval of position at last session; observations and instructions concerning third session. Dec. 7 321 Dec. 13 (673) Dec. 28 Declaration by the American Representative in the Second Meet- From the Minister in Switzerland Report on third session of Commission held December 5 to Transmittal of League communication of December 22, 323 333 |