711.62119/64: Telegram

The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in France (Herrick)

[Paraphrase]

412. Your telegram no. 539, September 6. Ambassador Harvey has telegraphed the Department that there has been no sign of disapproval over the treaty with Germany either in the press or in official quarters, and that it is hardly conceivable that there should be any antagonism on the part of the British Government. Ambassador Child states that Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs in reply to an informal inquiry expressed general approval of treaty consummation as a step taken toward final restoration of normal conditions. The Prime Minister of Belgium has taken the same general attitude. The Department has also understood from the French Chargé d’Affaires that Briand has informally expressed approval. From no power has the Department heard objections. In these circumstances it is not believed to be advisable to press for an answer to the inquiry made in the Department’s telegram no. 404, August 26.19 This Government will insist, of course, on all its rights under the Versailles Treaty, and if the subject should come up you should take the attitude that there is no ground for opposition, and that at least tacit approval is taken for granted.

Hughes
  1. See footnote 16, p. 24.