711.5112 France/80: Telegram

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

[Paraphrase]

459. Your No. 378, December 30, 1 p.m. I saw Briand and explained to him your views. He replied that he quite understood but he objected to my using the word “treaty,” stating that he did not intend the proposed pact to take the form of a treaty. He agreed that a treaty of this nature would create difficulties for the American Government. The following is a statement of Briand’s views:

On several occasions the League of Nations had publicly indicated its belief that all disputes should be settled by pacific means and its opposition to any recourse to war. As far as it went this was good, but such a manifestation would be greatly strengthened by the adhesion of the United States. Briand had believed, therefore, that if America and France should solemnly declare their condemnation of recourse to war on the occasion of the renewal of the 1908 arbitration treaty, it would promote the cause of peace. He believed that such a declaration should be made in a solemn form in view of the ancient friendship between the American and French peoples, but he was quite willing to have the declaration made in the preamble to the act renewing the arbitration treaty. His attitude would be entirely sympathetic if you wished at the same time to draft a protocol outlawing war and to invite the leading states of the world to sign it. Briand stated that he thought from the last telegram sent to him by Ambassador Claudel that we were in agreement as to points of view and that all that remained to be settled were minor details. He said he hoped that you would not make public your note to Ambassador Claudel of December 28 without an understanding between the American and French Governments as to what should be given to the press.

A friend at the Foreign Office privately said to me something that led me to think that Briand is much disappointed at the nature of my reply as he had hoped it was possible to have a bilateral convention. The terms of such a convention obviously could be more explicit than would be the case in a multilateral one. I think Briand now understands our situation and is ready to accept what you can offer him.

Whitehouse
  1. Telegram in two sections.