763.72119/3048

The French Chargé ( Chambrun ) to the Acting Secretary of State

[Translation]7

Mr. Secretary of State: I have the honor to inform Your Excellency that on the 10th of this month the Ministers of Denmark, Norway, and Sweden jointly called on His Excellency the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic and delivered to him three identic notes.8

The document states that the founding of a league intended to institute an international order of law and to establish a lasting peace is of vital importance to all civilized countries. It would not only tend to influence the juridical relations between states but its effects would be deeply felt also in the constitutional, economic and military organization of each particular country. Under these conditions the three Scandinavian Governments advance the opinion [Page 240] that it would be proper for each of them to take steps to obtain the opportunity to take part in the deliberations of the Peace Congress bearing either on that particular question or on any other directly affecting its own interests.

Inasmuch as the deliberations on the manner of conducting the future Congress for the conclusion of peace are to open in Paris, the three Scandinavian Governments have applied to the Government of the Republic asking it to communicate their request to the other Governments concerned.

His Excellency M. Pichon answered that in compliance with their wish he would make their step known to the Governments which will be called upon to determine in the first instance the procedure of the Peace Conference, namely, the United States, England and Italy. He added in answer to an inquiry by the three Scandinavian Ministers that in his judgment the question of the League of Nations could not be decided without the advice of the neutral countries.

Be pleased [etc.]

Charles de Chambrun
  1. File translation revised.
  2. Danish note printed on p. 237.