Submission - Foreign Secretary's Update on the Brussels Conference [1937-11]

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Far East
FE/37/10

    Mr. Eden with his humble duty to His Your Majesty.

    The main object which Your Majesty’s Delegation has had constantly before it during the Brussels Conference has been to ensure the closest possible co-operation with the Government of the United States. Even though such co-operation may not emerge in definite joint action in the present crisis, the future of world peace depends to so great an extent upon Anglo-American co-operation that Mr. Eden feels that the utmost should be spared to consolidate it. That is why he has spent so much of his time in Brussels during the last ten days. He feels that there has been already a certain measure of reward in that Mr. Norman Davis and the United States Delegation are now co-operating very fully with the British Delegation and the suspicion which has rankled ever since the Manchurian events of 1932 appears to be in a considerable measure eliminated.

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    Another satisfactory feature of the Conference has been the attitude of the Dominion Delegations, who have kept in constant touch with the United Kingdom Delegation and who have shown throughout a keen desire to help in any way possible.

    Far less satisfactory, unfortunately, is the Japanese attitude. Their reply, of which a Reuters forecast reached Brussels this morning, appears to be wholly negative. In the circumstances, the rôle of the Conference is difficult to forecast. Actual action must, of course, depend upon the extent to which the United States Government are willing to co-operate. Mr. Eden feels strongly that we should show ourselves willing to join with them in considering, and, if the United States Government are so prepared, in taking joint action. The only condition which should be imposed is that there is a sharing of all the risks involved. It is difficult to discover at present what action, if any, the United States Government wish to take in the light of a negative Japanese reply.

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Indeed, it may be doubted whether they themselves can know until Congress has met on Monday and President Roosevelt has addressed his message to that body and noted their reaction.

    As regards the immediate future, however, Mr. Eden hopes that the Conference will agree rapidly upon a reply to be sent to the Japanese refusal. The drafting of this document has already been taken in hand by the experts of the American and British Delegations. This, if necessary, the country may have to be left in the hands of one or other. After this reply has been agreed, the Conference will probably adjourn for a week to admit of Delegates consulting with their Governments before a resolution is drawn up expressing the Conference’s decision. Norman Davis has expressed his hope that this resolution will include condemnation of Japanese action, a refusal to

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grant credits. He has submitted a proposal to his Government in this sense. After the resolution of the Conference has been adopted at the end of next week, it is the hope of the American Delegation that there will be further adjournment during which further consultation will take place, in particular between Your Majesty’s Government in the United Kingdom and the United States Government, in order that it may be determined whether or not any further action, going beyond that proposed by Mr. Norman Davis, may be possible.

    All of which is respectfully submitted for Your Majesty’s gracious consideration.

(Stmp.) (Sd.) ANTHONY EDEN