740.0011 Mutual Guarantee (Locarno)/573: Telegram
The Minister in Norway (Biddle) to the Secretary of State
[Received April 6—12:55 p.m.]
25. Department’s telegram No. 6, March 21, 1 p.m. Through wellinformed circles I learn following: French plan40 will emphasize creation permanent international force Rhineland zone. Flandin and associates now admit they must talk with Germans but hope to postpone these conversations until after French elections. Eden is anxious to bring about cessation of Italian-Ethiopian hostilities and believes time element will prove important factor in reaching solution of German problem. Meanwhile England continues as restraining influence. Distinct pro-German attitude evident among English people including high army circles which worries pro-French element in Government, although even Austen Chamberlain admits this growing tendency which will have necessarily a bearing on England’s future treatment of general situation and may necessitate limiting scope of the forthcoming staff talks. Information has just reached high British Government officials to the effect that Germany and Japan are about to conclude more extensive military arrangements.41 This situation may add elements of uncertainty to French plans by worrying Russia.
- Issued on April 8 by the French Government; for text, see Documents on International Affairs, 1936, p. 197.↩
- See vol. iv, pp. 1 ff.↩