611.5131/916: Telegram
The Chargé in France (Marriner) to the Secretary of State
[Received November 26—9:25 a.m.]
672. Embassy’s telegram 660, November 18, noon.70 De La Boulaye telephoned yesterday to tell me that he had after inquiries found that his original idea was correct and that there has been no official announcement of any kind with respect to the breaking off of commercial negotiations. He said that apparently the ideas in question were the expression of personal opinion of one of the functionaries of the Ministry of Commerce and that he could tell me quite frankly that these opinions were generally shared by French officials although no announcement had been or would be made since no action was called upon by the French at this time. They had forwarded the text of a treaty to the United States together with the list of commodities requested and had received no formal reply to this last demand of theirs although they had understood informally from the American negotiator (Mr. Howell) that the list was insufficient.
- Not printed.↩