462.00 R 294/158: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in France (Herrick)
133. For Wadsworth. W–15.
This Government does not concur in the proposal suggested. It is felt that in any contingency the agreement should be effective at least in respect of that portion of future payments attributable to the Governments who are participating in the present negotiations and that it should not be in any way dependent upon the attitude of the other powers mentioned. I am unable to see any reason why [Page 157] the substantial settlement of our claim should be dependent on the attitude of these other powers. At all events the Allies who have been paid at our expense have the responsibility to arrange this matter suitably.