711.5112 France/79: Telegram

The Secretary of State to the Chargé in France (Whitehouse)

[Paraphrase]

378. Ambassador Claudel called on me this morning regarding my note of December 28 to him with respect to Briand’s proposed treaty. Claudel said that what France desired was a bilateral treaty with the United States and he is doubtful whether Briand will be willing to consider a multilateral treaty as is now suggested unless it can be clearly explained to him why the United States would not be able to conclude a bilateral treaty. I think you should see Briand and orally inform him that I have strongly felt this way since the idea was first presented and that I have always said that this Government could not enter into a treaty with France that it would not enter into with other powers. American public opinion would not view such a treaty with favor because it looks too much like a treaty of alliance and too short a step toward universal peace. It seems clear to me, for example, that should this Government enter into a treaty of this sort with Germany alone, public opinion in France would be much aroused and would believe that America was practically giving Germany a guarantee against attack. A treaty only between the United States and France could not but affect public opinion in other countries in the same way. Therefore, it would not serve the end of world peace. A multilateral treaty of the nature proposed in my note would, on the contrary, have a profound world-wide influence in promoting the cause of peace.

After you have talked with Briand please cable your impressions at once.

Kellogg