500.A15A4 General Committee/314: Telegram
The Chairman of the American Delegation (Davis) to the Secretary of State
[Received April 28—2:45 p.m.]
617. I made following statement in General Commission this afternoon prior to opening of discussion on substantive disarmament provisions of chapter II of British plan. My object was to emphasize our support of the plan as indicated in your 322, April 25, 7 p.m., and to discourage presentation of destructive amendments.
“Now that we are approaching a discussion of the actual disarmament provisions of the British plan I may say that my Government regards this plan as a most valuable contribution and as a definite and excellent step toward our ultimate objective, namely, a general reduction and limitation of armaments. We feel, however, that it is a step only and must be followed by succeeding steps. While it does not go as far in certain respects as proposals which we have submitted we have in good faith accepted it as a basis for our work and would like to see it adopted in as near its present form as possible. It contains certain provisions which are undoubtedly unpalatable to many governments represented here but I feel that its many merits more than counterbalance the defects. We shall, therefore, join with others in resisting any amendments which would unduly weaken it or which would jeopardize the nicely adjusted balance of this plan. Amendments breed amendments and each one who refrains from offering amendments will prevent dozens of others from being offered. I hope, therefore, that each delegation will approach its consideration of the plan in a spirit which will promote its acceptance as a whole. I hope that we can all concentrate our attention upon the advantages which the plan offers as a whole rather than on the less important details which may be distasteful.”