File No. 763.72119/1976
The Ambassador in France ( Sharp ) to the Secretary of State
[Received September 29, 12.46 a.m.]
Department’s September 26, 3 p.m.2 Through unaccountable delay the President’s speech did not reach Paris in its entirety until 9 p.m., the 27th; however, I caused at that time a complete copy to be sent over to Mr. Pichon, Minister for Foreign Affairs, a considerable portion of the address having been left by me in person with him late in the afternoon. This morning I discussed with the Minister various statements contained the address, calling particular attention to the last paragraph, agreeable to the Department’s desire Mr. Pichon gave his unreserved approval to the entire address, saying that unquestionably it would meet the approval of the French Government. He said that he particularly liked the expression of the President’s views as to the impracticability of forming a league of nations now; it must be done after peace has been declared. He expressed approval of the thought conveyed in the speech that it had become in a sense a peoples’ war rather than a war to be decided and settled by merely heads of governments.
On account of the delay attending the receipt of the complete address no comment appears upon it in the, French morning papers. From my own knowledge of popular sentiment in France as voiced [Page 329] in the past by numerous public declarations of members of the Government as well as press comments I am confident that the views expressed in the President’s speech are in full accord with those of France.