711.5112 France/49: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Chargé in France (Whitehouse)
220. My 209, July 13, 1 p.m. Yesterday’s Washington Star contains the following story, dated July 23, sent by the Chicago Daily News Service from Paris:
“The Quai d’Orsay is curious over the fact that no reply or even acknowledgment has as yet been received from Washington in regard to the treaty abolishing war between France and the United States, a draft of which was cabled to the State Department from Paris a month ago. The French text was a tentative draft on which it was presumed negotiations could be begun. It was carefully written by experts of the Foreign Office.
The idea of such a perpetual anti-war treaty was originally presented to the foreign office from several independent sources and was immediately acted upon.
The French realize President Coolidge is away from Washington and Secretary of State Kellogg is busy with the Navy Disarmament Conference, yet they would appreciate a brief acknowledgment.”
[Paraphrase.] The above information is incorrect as you were instructed to acknowledge to Briand the receipt of the draft text which Mr. Herrick delivered to me. Please find out whether Foreign Office gave out information of this kind. I believe it would be well for the Foreign Office to clear up with the press any misunderstanding on this matter.