500.A15A4 Land Armaments/14: Telegram
The Acting Secretary of State to the Acting Chairman of the American Delegation (Gibson)
Washington, April
2, 1932—2 p.m.
52. Since arriving at Washington, Davis has conferred at length with the President, the Secretary of State, the Chief of Staff, and the Chief of Naval Operations, all of whom have concurred in the following principles:
- 1.
- We are prepared to advocate the total abolition of tanks and of all heavy mobile land artillery over 155 mm. in caliber. This would of course not include heavy artillery on fixed mounts whether in fortifications or in coast defenses. We would install on fixed mounts our present coast defense railway artillery if this proposal is generally accepted.
- 2.
- We are prepared to accept the abolition of the use of all toxic gases in war, not merely lethal gases as heretofore announced.
I shall telegraph you at a later date regarding aviation questions.
Castle