893.51/2790: Telegram
The Ambassador in France (Wallace) to the Secretary of State
[Received 5:13 p.m.]
1032. Your 783, April 17, 1 p.m. [16, 5 p.m.],17 delayed in transit. Foreign Office although entirely willing to support the Department’s position with respect to standing firm on the agreement reached between Lamont and Japanese group is a little embarrassed in taking [Page 533] the proposed joint action. Outside of a copy of the memorandum handed to the Department by the Japanese Ambassador at Washington (see Department’s 677)18 which was given a few days ago to the Foreign Office by the Japanese Ambassador here merely for information, the Foreign Office has received no official communications from the Japanese with regard to recent negotiations. Thus it has no official knowledge of the agreement between Lamont and the Japanese Government. It perceives difficulty therefore in making direct representations to the Japanese with regard to negotiations in which it has had no part.
I expect however an indication of the views of the Foreign Office to-day or to-morrow when I will cable you immediately. At all events I feel sure that the Foreign Office in principle is most anxious to work in connection with the Department in matters connected with the consortium and will support its views.