462.00 R 296/95: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in France (Herrick)
455. For Logan. L–19. Your 496, December 6, 3 p.m. L–44.
You may reply at once to Barthou as follows:
“I have not failed to inform my Government of your letter of December 5th. My Government is deeply interested in the economic recuperation of Europe and is gratified to learn of the proposal for the establishment by the Reparation Commission of two committees of experts for the purposes stated. My Government notes the statement in your letter that the first committee of experts will endeavor to find (a) the means of balancing the budget of Germany, and (b) the measures to be taken to stabilize its currency; and that to this end the experts will be invited to determine the conditions to be realized in order that a currency can be stabilized and the measures to be progressively taken so as to realize all of these conditions, and also that they will be invited to study in detail the receipts and expenditures of the Reich as well as of the different States.
It has been made clear in our interviews that the Government of the United States is not in a position to be represented on these committees, but my Government believes that the proposed inquiries will be of great value and it views with favor the acceptance by American experts of invitations to participate in the work of the committees.
It is hoped that through these committees practicable and just solutions of the pending problems may be found.” Signature, et cetera.
You may ask Barthou to incorporate the statement of his letter as to first committee of experts in invitation, and at the proper time you may suggest that the invitation for participation of American expert should be extended to General Charles G. Dawes. Suggestion as to second committee will be made later.
Obtain, if possible, Barthou’s consent to the publication of his letter December 5th and your reply as above. Should be published simultaneously in France and United States at earliest possible moment because of deep general interest. Suggest publication Thursday [Page 106] morning 13th, if no objection is made. This however does not include mention of Dawes for the present unless discussion here makes publication necessary. This Government hopes that proceedings of Reparation Commission may be expedited so that invitation to Dawes can be made at an early day.