767.68119/281: Telegram
The Special Mission at Lausanne to the Secretary of State
[Received 12:50 p.m.]
84. Your no. 38, December 9, 6 p.m. Barrère and Curzon have told Child that France and Great Britain do not contemplate the [Page 920] recognition of the Moscow regime. Barrère and Child have conferred on the difficulty of allowing Russia to sign any treaty without thereby creating the basis for a claim of de jure recognition. Barrère suggests that this may be avoided by making a separate instrument for understanding with Russia. The suggestion is being studied but the exact nature of the instrument has not been planned as yet. There are strong indications that Chicherin and Rakovsky disagree. Chicherin wishes a result acceptable to the Soviets while Rakovsky would rather invite a breach and leave Lausanne without entering into an agreement. This afternoon we have information from Turkish sources tending to assure us that there is a widening break between the Turks and Russians, and indicating that the French distrust an increasing accord between the Turks and British. Unless we think it will serve definite purposes we will not receive Soviet delegates.