711.5112France/169
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in France (Herrick)
Sir: There is transmitted below the substance of a conversation which took place on February 2, 1928, between the Secretary and the French Ambassador with regard to the so-called Briand proposal for the outlawry of war.
The Secretary asked the Ambassador whether M. Briand’s reply to his proposition was to be construed as a definite rejection of the latter to which the Ambassador answered emphatically in the negative. Mr. Kellogg had put this question to M. Claudel merely for his own information in replying to M. Briand although, of course, he would not make use of the Ambassador’s statement in replying to the French Government. The Ambassador thereupon stated that the answer which he had given came from M. Briand personally; that the Foreign Minister had telegraphed the Ambassador that he did not wish the Secretary to construe his answer as being a definite refusal to make the treaty which Mr. Kellogg proposed but merely as a suggestion that other French obligations be taken into consideration. In thanking the Ambassador for this message the Secretary assured him that he would answer the note as soon as possible.
I am [etc.]