711.4112Anti-War/158: Telegram
The Chargé in Great Britain (Atherton) to the Secretary of State
[Received 2:28 p.m.]
172. Your telegram No. 173, July 23, noon.7 This morning Sir Ronald Lindsay8 sent for me and gave me Chamberlain’s reply in full to inquiry contained in your telegram under reference which I had discussed immediately upon its receipt.
Chamberlain’s feeling is that question involved is one primarily for decision between you and Briand, although he himself would welcome inclusion of Spain as one of the original signatories; he does not feel that to include Spain in this way would mean a general extension to other countries.
In my previous discussion at the Foreign Office, the subject of Russia was brought into the conversation. On that Chamberlain feels that as Great Britain has no treaty obligations with Russia he has no opinion either one way or the other in regard to that country’s inclusion as subscriber to the pact, but that he would not make the slightest effort to obtain its signature. If any intimation is received in regard to extending invitation to Russia, he felt that decision lies between you and Briand.