711.5112 France/31: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Chargé in France ( Whitehouse )
196. Your telegram No. 265 of June 26, noon. I am not now prepared to give any opinion regarding the draft proposed by Briand, and I think it would not be wise for him to make a public statement with respect to the subject.
It is believed here that Briand’s proposal is one which should be discussed informally through regular diplomatic channels. Our attitude in this regard has been clearly indicated in my previous messages. There is evidently a disposition on the part of high French officials and certain individuals in private life, apparently in touch with these officials, to put aside diplomatic conversations and to handle the matter in other ways. This creates the decided impression that there are [Page 619] involved considerations and motives quite separate from the merits of the proposal itself. Should these tactics continue to be used, the unfortunate effect may be to render it difficult if not impossible for us to proceed to examine the proposal in an orderly manner. We are not going to be stampeded into making any commitments at all on the subject by public statements by anyone prior to our negotiations. President Coolidge and members of the Cabinet are all away from Washington, and, obviously, most careful consideration should be given to Briand’s proposals.