711.5112 France/28: Telegram
The Chargé in France ( Whitehouse ) to the Secretary of State
260. Your telegram No. 174, June 11, 11 a.m. Last night Berthelot sent for me and informed me that your reply was very pleasing to Briand but that as the French Ambassador would not reach Washington until the end of August he thought that was too long a time to delay doing anything toward realizing the proposed agreement. [Page 616] Briand had, therefore, drafted a suggested text which he wished to have forwarded for your consideration.
The French text Mr. Herrick is taking with him. When he reaches New York he will mail it to you. The following is a translation of the draft:9
“Draft of Pact of Perpetual Friendship between France and the United States,
The President of the French Republic and the President of the United States,
Equally desirous of affirming the solidarity of the French people and the people of the United States of America in their wish for peace and in their renunciation of a recourse to arms as an instrument of their policy towards each other,
And having come to an agreement to crystallize in a solemn act these sentiments as much in accord with the progress of modern democracies as with the mutual friendship and esteem of two nations that no war has ever divided and which the defense of liberty and justice has always drawn closer, have to this end designated for their plenipotentiaries, to wit:
- The President of the French Republic (blank)
- The President of the United States of America (blank)
Who after having exchanged their powers recognized in good and due form have agreed upon the following provisions:
- Article 1. The high contracting powers solemnly declare in the name of the French people and the people of the United States of America that they condemn recourse to war and renounce it, respectively, as an instrument of their national policy towards each other.
- Article 2. The settlement or the solution of all disputes or conflicts of whatever nature or of whatever origin they may be which may arise between France and the United States of America shall never be sought by either side except by pacific means.
- Article 3. The present act shall be ratified. The ratifications thereof shall be exchanged at (blank) as soon as possible and from that time it shall have full force and value.
In witness whereof the above named plenipotentiaries have signed the present act and have thereunto set their seal.
Done at Paris in two copies (each drawn up both in French and English and having equal force) the (blank) 1927.
(Signatures and seals)”.