462.00 R 296/16: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Great Britain (Harvey)25
284. On October 13th the British Chargé d’Affaires made to me the following communication:
[Here follows the text of the British aide-mémoire printed on page 68.]
On the 15th I replied as follows:
[Here follows the text of the Department’s aide-mémoire printed supra.]
[Paraphrase.] The British aide-mémoire was communicated in the strictest confidence, and only the President and myself are aware of it and of my reply. I said in my reply that while I should treat the British communication as confidential, I must reserve the right to publish the reply should the fact of the British Government’s suggestion or of my answer become public or should it be made known to other Powers, and that it was of importance that the attitude of the American Government should be made clear. It [Page 74] seems probable that my reply will be communicated to the Imperial Conference. If any developments should come to your notice you will please advise me.
Should the British Government decide to approach the French Government, it is very important that they should do so in a conciliatory manner, and without any statement which would suggest a British-American understanding in advance. My reply to the British communication was exactly the same, of course, as it would have been to any other government making a similar inquiry. [End paraphrase.]
- On Oct. 23 Ambassador Harvey was instructed to transmit this telegram by mail to the Embassies in Belgium and France; on Oct. 24 to the Embassy in Italy; and on Oct. 26 to the Embassy in Germany.↩