462.00R296/4023: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in France (Edge)
265. Reference is made to your telegram No. 332, June 21, 8 p.m. The dangers of the situation which are brought out clearly in your conversation with Flandin and which you have pointed out in your telegram are fully appreciated here. Of course there is no basis at all for any suspicion such as the one which he indicates. This plan has not been discussed in a preliminary way with any other nation. Naturally enough the President has been following the situation in Germany with keen anxiety. When the financial crisis in Germany of Friday and Saturday of last week indicated that disaster was imminent unless the President acted at once, he then acted. When the President reached his decision to act France was the first of the other nations notified. That occurred last Friday.
In order that it may be made clear how the critical development last Friday and Saturday in German withdrawals forced the President’s action, the President is asking Mr. Mellon to visit Paris. This is for your own information.
The information we have here suggests that if the President had not acted Central Europe would probably have reached financial ruin by today. France should be reassured by these facts and thus prevented from believing at all that she was left out of any carefully drawn up plans intentionally. When Mr. Mellon reaches Paris he will then be able to make it clear to the French Government that his London conversations had only the purpose of finding out the urgency and the difficulties in the German financial situation and not of making plans of any character for action by the President. When Secretary Mellon arrives please show this telegram to him.