462.00R296/4086: Telegram
The Ambassador in France (Edge) to the Secretary of State
351. At 12:45 the meeting of the Cabinet Council closed and Laval asked me to come in at 3:30 so that he might give me the text of the [Page 59] French reply to the President’s proposal. This reply is now being officially transmitted by cable to Ambassador Claudel. Laval read the reply to me. He expressed his appreciation for the frank opinions of President Hoover transmitted in the note on this subject which he had received this morning during the meeting of the Cabinet Council and which had been considered by his colleagues and himself. The reply is more conciliatory in tone than our previous information as to the French viewpoint, although it does not alter materially the proposition outlined by Berthelot (see my telegram 334 of June 22, 4 p.m.) and the Prime Minister’s proposition of last night (see my telegram 343 of June 24, 3 a.m.). Laval, however, wished to add one principal idea at this time: in view of the radio talk by Bruening yesterday afternoon in which he expressed his desire to consult the French as soon as possible, Laval has asked Briand to see Ambassador Von Hoesch this afternoon so that the German Government may be informed that the Prime Minister and the French Government will be most happy to see the German Chancellor in Paris as soon as possible.
Laval emphasized that he felt that this initiative was precisely in agreement with the wishes of President Hoover. I drew the inference that Laval rather hoped that no final decisions on the moratorium matter would be taken until there should be time for results from this plan for direct conversations with German representatives, provided that the talks take place without delay.
The text of the French note will not be given to the press before 3:30 on Friday when the interpellations will take place. The Prime Minister sincerely hopes that the press will receive no information before that time as the French Parliament is highly sensitive on this matter. Laval again pointed out that of course he could take no steps without the full approval of the French Parliament since the Young Plan had been accepted by passing a statute and any changes in it would necessarily follow the same process.
I told Laval in confidence that Secretary Mellon would go through Paris in a private capacity on Friday on his way to Cape Ferrat and the Prime Minister requested the pleasure of the company of Mr. Mellon at an informal luncheon for a small group at 12:30 that day. Laval will also invite the Minister of Finance, the Minister of Budget, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Marriner and myself. I think that although Laval realized that Secretary Mellon’s visit was not for purposes of [omission] he was nevertheless happy for the sake of public opinion in France to have this chance for a conversation.
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