File No. 763.72119/702
The Ambassador in France ( Sharp) to the Secretary of State
[Received August 3, 11.30 a.m.]
2354. Your 2471, July 20, 3 p.m.1 For the past few days a number of Russian and English Socialist representatives have been holding conferences with the Socialist members in Paris discussing plans for holding an adjourned meeting at London next week and later for attending the Stockholm conference scheduled for some time in September. The utterances of these representatives as quoted in the Paris press while of a rather conservative tone do not appear to have met with favor of the French Government. Mr. Cambon to-day expressed the hope that President Wilson would not look with favor upon Socialist representatives from the United States attending the Stockholm conference. He seemed to think that it might be grave question as to whether Mr. Henderson, prominent Socialist member of the British Cabinet, would be permitted to resume his seat after having come over to attend the preliminary Socialist conference in Paris without the consent of his Government. Personally he did not favor such drastic measures against him. I am convinced that neither England, France nor Italy will permit delegates to go to Stockholm.
Mr. Cambon informed me in this connection that it was expected that the Premier would be to-day vigorously interpellated [since] questions have arisen as to the attitude of the Government on the [Page 751] proposed Stockholm conference and likely involving question as to relations with Russia. In reference to the latter subject, and the charges made by the German Chancellor as to the relations between France and Russia before the revolution, all the papers strongly support the reply of Ribot to the Chancellor’s declarations. They characterize the Chancellor’s effort as being [untruthful?] and fruitless, the Allies being drawn closer together.