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 ARMA

MENT, JUNE 20-August 4, 1927

Date and number

Subject

Page

1927 Feb. 3

(24)

1

1

Feb, 3

(25)

To

5

Feb. 3

(14)

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), in-
quiring 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.

Information that the President's message was communi-
cated 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 informa-
tion.

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

6

Feb. 3

(26)

9

Feb. 3

(27)

9

Feb. 7

(5)

THREE-POWER CONFERENCE AT GENEVA FOR THE LIMITATION OF NAVAL ARMA

MENT, JUNE 20–AUGUST 4, 1927—Continued

Date and number

Subject

Page

1927 Feb. 15

(66)

10

Feb. 19

13

14

Feb. 21

(24)

14

Feb. 21

(25)

Feb. 21

(26)

16

17

Feb. 21

(39)

From the Ambassador in France (tel.)

French reply (text printed), stating inability to accept sug-
gestion for separate naval limitation agreement among signa-
tories of Washington treaty because of conviction that naval
limitation can be dealt with effectively only by the Preparatory
Commission.
From the Japanese Embassy

Acceptance of proposal to participate in negotiations for
further naval limitation.
From the Ambassador in Italy (tel.)

Information that a negative reply has been received from
the Italian Government.
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 un-
favorable geographical position prevents limitation of her
already insufficient naval armament.
From the Ambassador in Italy (tel.)

Observation that no effective naval limitation in the Medi-
terranean 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 recon-
sider refusal to participate if assured in advance that Italo-
French 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 Govern-
ment.
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 misunder-
standing, 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.)

Feb. 22

17

19

Feb. 22

(20)

Feb. 24

(7)

THREE-POWER CONFERENCE AT GENEVA FOR THE LIMITATION OF NAVAL ARMA

MENT, JUNE 20-AUGUST 4, 1927—Continued

Date and number

Subject

Page

20

21

22

23

24

1927 Feb. 24 From the Ambassador in Great Britain (tel.) (46) 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. Feb. 24 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. Feb. 25 From the Ambassador in Great Britain (tel.) (48) Draft of British reply (text printed) accepting U. S. invita

tion, to be made public on February 28 following receipt of

expected favorable replies from Dominions. Mar. 5 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.
Mar. 5 To the Ambassador in Italy (tel.)
(17) 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 proce-
dure upon three-power basis was cabled to Embassies in

Great Britain and Japan.) Mar. 8 To the Ambassador in Great Britain (tel.) (49) Instructions to advise Chamberlain that an indication to

Japanese Government of British attitude toward Three-Power

Conference will facilitate Japanese reply. Mar. 9 From the Ambassador in Great Britain (tel.) (59) Information that copy of British acceptance of Three-Power

Conference proposal has been sent to British Embassy at

Tokyo.
Mar. 10 Memorandum by the Under Secretary of State

Conversation in which British Ambassador read his Govern

ment's informal acceptance (text printed). Mar. 11 From the Japanese Embassy

Acceptance of invitation to Three-Power Conference. Mar. 11 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.)

26

26

26

27

28

THREE-POWER CONFERENCE AT GENEVA FOR THE LIMITATION OF NAVAL ARMA

MENT, JUNE 20–AUGUST 4, 1927—Continued

Date and number

Subject

Page

28

30

31

32

33

1927
Mar. 12 To the Ambassador in France (tel.)
(72) Memorandum for Foreign Office (text printed), acknowledg-

ing French Government's reply of February 15 and extending
invitation to be represented in some manner at Three-Power

Conference.
Mar. 12 To the Ambassador in Italy (tel.)
(18) Memorandum for Foreign Office (text printed), acknowledg-

ing Italian Government's reply of February 21 and extending
invitation to be represented in some manner at Three-Power

Conference.
Apr. 3 From the Ambassador in France (tel.)
(152) Foreign Office note verbale, April 2 (text printed), explaining

why decision concerning representation at Three-Power Con

ference, even by an observer, must be deferred.
Apr. 6 From the British Ambassador
(229) 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.
Apr. 6 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. Apr. 6 From the Ambassador in Japan (tel.) (50) Information that Japanese delegates will be Admiral Vis

count Saito and Viscount Ishii. Apr. 13

To the Chief of the American Delegation on the Preparatory (116)

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.
Apr. 14

From the Chief of the American Delegation on the Preparatory (241) 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.
Apr. 20 To the Chief of the American Delegation on the Preparatory Com-
(121)

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 Great Britain (tel (84)

gestions for holding Conference elsewhere and of League pref-
erence that request for use of facilities come from either Great
Britain or Japán as League members.

34

34

35

36

37

137 Telebe ramions to intor me chamberlain of unofficial British sug