500.A15A5/639: Telegram
The Chairman of the American Delegation (Davis) to the Secretary of State
[Received January 30—2:23 p.m.]
76. Your 29, January 29, 7 p.m. We understand your decision regarding proposal A but remain in doubt as to your views on the cruiser question. In particular we do not understand the phrase “reduction rather than an extension of quantitative limits in categories is desirable”. We have stated, see our 47, January 14, 7 p.m., last paragraph and 62, January 21, 2 p.m. [a.m.] that except for the proposed holiday in the construction of 8-inch gun cruisers and 10,000-ton 6-inch gun cruisers there will be no quantitative features whatever in the new treaty. It will be qualitative solely. Under these conditions there will be no possibility of limiting any category quantitatively either by the number of ships or the total tonnage in the category or globally. There will be no purpose in providing for transfers between categories since there will be no figure to which or from which transfers can be made.
While the British would probably agree to quantitative limitation in all categories provided France and Italy would agree it is impossible to get these two powers to do so because it raises between them the unsoluble question of ratio or parity which they have tacitly [Page 51] agreed to leave undetermined. Furthermore, the failure of Japan to agree on quantitative limitation on a basis acceptable to either Great Britain or ourselves makes such limitation all the more impracticable.
It is very clear the new broad category of 8000 tons and under with guns not exceeding 6.1 inch is the inability of the European powers particularly France and Italy to agree upon any distinction between small cruisers, destroyers or other small surface craft. Since there will be no quantitative limitation in this broad category it is their opinion that a division into subcategories would serve no useful purpose. In any event the proposed exchange of information will give details as to the characteristics of every ship to be built. There will be unrestricted building in this broad category as stated in your 29; there will also be unrestricted building in every other category except category A cruisers and 10,000-ton category B cruisers. The existing exempt and special vessels would either fall within this new broad category or would be provided for in the new treaty by new exempt and special classes similar to those of the London Treaty.
There is no information regarding ultimate tonnage except the recent British statement of their intention to have a total of 70 cruisers including 10 overage and their statement last year of a desire [to] retain 50,000 tons of overage destroyers. These intentions will of course not appear in the new treaty.
We are of the opinion that we should accept (1), a building holiday in category A and 10,000-ton category B cruisers; (2), a category of light surface vessels comprising combatant vessels from 100 tons to 8000 tons mounting a gun not in excess of 6.1 inch. Admiral Standley would like to feel assured that the General Board concurs in this opinion.
Unless instructed to the contrary we shall proceed on the assumption that in the light of the additional explanation contained in this [telegram] these proposals are acceptable to the State and Navy Departments and to the President.