711.5112France/254: Telegram
The Ambassador in France (Herrick) to the Secretary of State
90. Mr. Gordon, of the Embassy staff, has just seen Corbin30 again who told him that Briand had arrived in Paris this afternoon but was returning immediately to his election district. Corbin stated that he had personally acquainted Briand fully regarding conversation with Gordon this morning on submission to the other four powers of the draft treaty correspondence. Briand requested that he transmit the following reply:
The Minister for Foreign Affairs understands views and intentions set forth in Department’s telegram No. 102, April 10, and is in agreement with procedure therein indicated under the heads (a), (b), and (c) thereof. In view of fact that in submitting the correspondence to Germany, Great Britain, Italy, and Japan the Department intends to submit also the draft general form of treaty, Briand reserves right to do likewise; that is to say, he intends to submit to the said four powers a draft form of treaty embodying French point of view as it has been set forth in the correspondence that has been exchanged with the United States.
Corbin gave evidence of no desire that Department delay giving final instructions for delivery of note to the four powers, together with its enclosures, until such time as the French shall have prepared their proposed draft treaty.