500.A15 a 1/354: Telegram
The Chairman of the American Delegation (Gibson) to the Secretary of State
[Paraphrase]
Geneva, June 30,
1927—2 p.m.
[Received 4:55 p.m.]
[Received 4:55 p.m.]
45. There are summarized below certain changes in the situation which are considered most favorable to us:
- 1.
- After apparently planning to justify their claim to superiority in naval strength, the British have weighed the matter and changed their minds. The idea of absolute parity between the United States and Great Britain has been unequivocally admitted by Bridgeman. (Reference is made to my telegram No. 44, June 30, 1 p.m., concerning this.) Bridgeman has told me that he considers it to be preferable [Page 66] for us to postpone public sessions at this time and he has put an end to the insistence for public debate on the naval needs of Great Britain and the United States. It is felt that your well-timed inquiry through our Chargé at London in regard to this matter was most beneficial to us.
- 2.
- It is believed that the British are conscious that they cannot force revision of the Washington treaty by using any rush tactics upon us. The original statement made by Bridgeman has now been publicly qualified by his announcing that the possession by the British Empire of three ships of greater tonnage than those possessed by the United States will necessitate numerous technical adjustments before any arrangement for the reduction of maximum tonnage of capital ships can be reached.
- 3.
- A reasonable and sensible spirit has been exhibited in the work thus far done by the technical committees. Although we are conscious that the cruiser problem is one of great difficulty, it is felt that there is a growing desire to reach an agreement and that the United States’ position is such that we have no grounds for fears on this score. In regard to the points, tentative agreement has been reached with great ease.
Gibson