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LIST OF PAPERS

[Unless otherwise specified, the correspondence is from or to officials in the Department of State.

GENERAL

THREE-POWER CONFERENCE AT GENEVA FOR THE LIMITATION OF NAVAL ARMAMENT, JUNE 20-AUGUST 4, 1927

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To the Ambassador in France (tel.)

Instructions to make advance arrangements for delivery to Foreign Office on February 10 of memorandum and message of President Coolidge, texts of which will be transmitted by telegrams Nos. 25 and 26.

(Footnote: The same, mutatis mutandis, to the Embassies in Great Britain and Italy; similar instructions to the Embassy in Japan.)

To the Ambassador in France (tel.)

Memorandum for French Government (text printed), inquiring whether, as a signatory to the Washington treaty limiting naval armament, France is disposed to empower her delegates on the Preparatory Commission for the Disarmament Conference at Geneva, pending the results of the Conference, to negotiate and conclude a further naval limitation agreement, supplementing the Washington treaty and covering the classes of vessels not dealt with by that treaty.

(Footnote: Instructions to repeat text of memorandum to Great Britain and Italy. A similar telegram was sent to the Embassy in Japan.)

To the Ambassador in Japan (tel.)

Instructions to supplement presentation of memorandum by oral expression of U. S. views.

To the Ambassador in France (tel.)

President Coolidge's proposed message to Congress (text printed), outlining the considerations which prompted him to direct the presentation of a proposal for further naval limitation to the Washington treaty signatories.

(Footnotes: Instructions to repeat to Great Britain and Italy. A similar telegram was sent to Japan.

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5

6

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Information that the President's message was communicated to Congress on February 10.)

To the Ambassador in France (tel.)

Instructions to supplement presentation of memorandum by oral expression of U. S. views.

To the Ambassador in Chile (tel.)

Transmittal of text of naval limitation memorandum, with instructions to present copy to Foreign Minister on February 10, as a matter of courtesy and for his Government's information.

(Footnote: Instructions to repeat to Argentina. A similar telegram was sent to Brazil.)

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9

THREE-POWER CONFERENce at Geneva for the LIMITATION OF NAVAL ARMAMENT, JUNE 20-AUGUST 4, 1927-Continued

Date and number

1927 Feb. 15 (66)

Feb. 19

Subject

From the Ambassador in France (tel.)

French reply (text printed), stating inability to accept suggestion for separate naval limitation agreement among signatories of Washington treaty because of conviction that naval limitation can be dealt with effectively only by the Preparatory Commission.

From the Japanese Embassy

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10

Feb. 21 (24)

Feb. 21 (25)

Feb. 21 (26)

Feb. 21 (39)

Feb. 22

Feb. 22 (20)

Feb. 24 (7)

13

Acceptance of proposal to participate in negotiations for further naval limitation.

From the Ambassador in Italy (tel.)

14

Information that a negative reply has been received from the Italian Government.

14

From the Ambassador in Italy (tel.)

Italian reply (text printed), giving among other reasons for inability to accede to U. S. proposal, the fact that Italy's unfavorable geographical position prevents limitation of her already insufficient naval armament.

From the Ambassador in Italy (tel.)

Observation that no effective naval limitation in the Mediterranean can be accomplished until Italo-French relations improve.

To the Ambassador in Great Britain (tel.)

Information from British Ambassador that his Government is sympathetically considering U. S. proposal, but that reply will be delayed because of necessity to consult Dominions. Press reports of favorable attitude of Prime Minister Baldwin and Foreign Secretary Chamberlain and emphatic opposition of Bridgeman, First Lord of the Admiralty; authorization, if deemed wise, to discuss the whole matter with Chamberlain. Memorandum by the Chief of the Division of Western European Affairs

Conversation in which the Italian Ambassador was told, in reply to his Government's suggestion that Italy would reconsider refusal to participate if assured in advance that ItaloFrench parity established by Washington treaty would not be disturbed, that it was just such questions which would have to be studied by the Naval Conference. Further outline to Ambassador of reasons why Italy should be interested in participating, and Ambassador's intention to cable his Government.

From the Chargé in Argentina (tel.)

Communication from Argentine Government (text printed), stating that the question of naval limitation should await action of Preparatory Commission.

To the Ambassador in Chile (tel.)

Instructions, should suitable occasion be presented, to advise Foreign Minister that Argentine reply to communication of February 7 appears to have been occasioned by some misunderstanding, and that replies are not expected from Brazil or Chile. (Footnote: Sent also, mutatis mutandis, to Brazil. The Embassy in Argentina was informed by telegram to the same effect.)

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THREE-POWER CONFERENce at Geneva for the LIMITATION OF Naval ArmaMENT, JUNE 20-AUGUST 4, 1927-Continued

Date and number

1927

Feb. 24 (46)

Feb. 24

Feb. 25 (48)

Mar. 5

Mar. 5 (17)

Mar. 8 (49)

Mar. 9 (59)

Mar. 10

Mar. 11

Mar. 11

Subject

From the Ambassador in Great Britain (tel.)

Emphatic assurance by Bridgeman of his desire for Naval Conference and indication that favorable British reply may be expected following receipt of answers from Dominions.

Memorandum by the Under Secretary of State

Conversation in which the Italian Ambassador was informed that the United States could not guarantee in advance that Conference would maintain Franco-Italian parity, even if such guarantee would enable Italy to reconsider refusal to attend Conference.

From the Ambassador in Great Britain (tel.)

Draft of British reply (text printed) accepting U. S. invitation, to be made public on February 28 following receipt of expected favorable replies from Dominions.

Memorandum by the Under Secretary of State

Report of separate conversations with the British and Japanese Ambassadors, in which each expressed his personal opinion that in spite of French and Italian refusals, his Government would agree to discuss naval limitation with the other two powers. Informal approval by Ambassadors of plan to invite France and Italy to send observers.

To the Ambassador in Italy (tel.)

Information concerning Italian Ambassador's discussions at the Department with regard to Italy's attitude toward naval limitation, and his intention to try to persuade his Government to reconsider refusal. U. S. request of British and Japanese Ambassadors that they ascertain whether procedure upon three-power basis would be agreeable to their Governments.

(Footnote: Information that paragraph concerning procedure upon three-power basis was cabled to Embassies in Great Britain and Japan.)

To the Ambassador in Great Britain (tel.)

Instructions to advise Chamberlain that an indication to
Japanese Government of British attitude toward Three-Power
Conference will facilitate Japanese reply.

From the Ambassador in Great Britain (tel.)

Information that copy of British acceptance of Three-Power
Conference proposal has been sent to British Embassy at
Tokyo.

Memorandum by the Under Secretary of State

Conversation in which British Ambassador read his Government's informal acceptance (text printed).

From the Japanese Embassy

Acceptance of invitation to Three-Power Conference.

To the Japanese Ambassador

Formal confirmation of Three-Power Conference proposal, with expression of hope that France and Italy may be represented at least informally, and information that discussions will begin at Geneva about June 1.

(Footnote: Sent, mutatis mutandis, to the British Ambassador.)

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THREE-POWER CONFERENCE AT GENEVA for the LIMITATION OF NAVAL ARMAMENT, JUNE 20-AUGUST 4, 1927-Continued

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To the Ambassador in France (tel.)

Memorandum for Foreign Office (text printed), acknowledging French Government's reply of February 15 and extending invitation to be represented in some manner at Three-Power Conference.

To the Ambassador in Italy (tel.)

Memorandum for Foreign Office (text printed), acknowledging Italian Government's reply of February 21 and extending invitation to be represented in some manner at Three-Power Conference.

From the Ambassador in France (tel.)

Foreign Office note verbale, April 2 (text printed), explaining why decision concerning representation at Three-Power Conference, even by an observer, must be deferred.

From the British Ambassador

British Government's assumption that postponement of meeting to June 1 means that formal Naval Conference, rather than preliminary conversations, will take place on that date at Geneva; plan to send Bridgeman, Viscount Cecil, and Admiral Field as plenipotentiaries.

From the Japanese Ambassador

Desire that Conference begin no earlier than June 11, in order to allow sufficient time for Japanese delegation to reach Geneva.

From the Ambassador in Japan (tel.)

Information that Japanese delegates will be Admiral Vis-
count Saito and Viscount Ishii.

To the Chief of the American Delegation on the Preparatory
Commission (tel.)

Instructions to cable if definite date for Three-Power Con-
ference has been arranged and to give suggestions as to per-
sonnel of American delegation; communication of names of
British and Japanese delegates.

From the Chief of the American Delegation on the Preparatory
Commission (tel.)

Information that definite arrangements have not yet been
made as to date or secretariat for Conference; Bridgeman's
opposition to Geneva as meeting place.

To the Chief of the American Delegation on the Preparatory Com-
mission (tel.)

Advice that, while United States cannot very well take
initiative in suggesting that Conference be held elsewhere than
in Geneva, it will not oppose such a suggestion if made by
Great Britain or Japan, or if League would be embarrassed by
having negotiations there or is unable to provide the necessary
facilities.

To the Ambassador in Great Britain (tel.)

Instructions to inform Chamberlain of unofficial British suggestions for holding Conference elsewhere and of League preference that request for use of facilities come from either Great Britain or Japan as League members.

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