800.51 W 89France/411: Telegram

The Chargé in France ( Whitehouse ) to the Secretary of State

[Paraphrase]

388. Parliament will probably not be convoked until the second week in November, it now appears, and will take up the budget [Page 108] after ratifying the administrative reforms. Poincaré wishes to have the budget voted before the beginning of the new year in order to avoid provisional twelfths which dislocate budget provisions.

Hostility to the ratification of the debt agreements without safeguard clause is general and it has become apparent that reservations in a preamble would be futile. It seems likely, therefore, that an attempt to reopen negotiations with our Government will be made or at least there will be much delay in bringing the agreements before Parliament.

Whitehouse