500.A15A4/988: Telegram
The Acting Chairman of the American Delegation (Gibson) to the Acting Secretary of State
[Received April 19—11:20 a.m.]
129. From the Secretary.94 I have already had conferences with Tardieu, Laval and Berthelot in Paris and with Simon, Walter Layton, Bruening, Matsudaira, Tevfik, Motta and Drummond here. Have discussed disarmament questions, also the Far East, with most of them. On latter subject had particularly satisfactory talks with Berthelot, Simon and Layton. No one raised the question of reparations. Today shall see Grandi, Bruening, te Water and Wilford. MacDonald and Hailsham will arrive Thursday morning. Contrary to my previous information it is now very evident that French cannot do anything definite until after elections May 1st. Tardieu, however, is coming down this week end to see me and am not without hope that we may make progress towards some ultimate solution. Was very conciliatory in Paris although it was evident that his main preoccupation was his campaign which is very intense. Morale of American delegation high and all working hard. [Stimson.]
- Mr. Stimson had sailed from New York on the Ile de France, April 8; he arrived at Havre, April 15; and at the Villa Bessinge, Geneva, April 16. He left Geneva, May 1; arrived at New York aboard the Vulcania, May 14. During this period Mr. Castle was Acting Secretary of State.↩