462.00R296/4261c: Telegram
The Acting Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Germany (Sackett)
106. Our Embassy at Paris is passing on to you a confidential telegram to Mellon and Edge17 giving an outline of the bases on which the discussions are now being carried on with France.
It is our hope that an accord may be arrived at, although we can give no assurance as to that. In case a settlement along these lines should be reached it would help a great deal toward the main object of the President’s proposal if Germany would give it her heartiest support. The expression of her approval should not be limited solely to the President’s action in making the proposal and in pressing untiringly for its acceptance, but we feel that it should include also an expression of appreciation of the cooperative support given by all countries, France included.
In order to induce the Germans to give it an approval of this sort, act according to your own judgment. In the past week we have been considerably exercised over the failure of the German Government to respond to the different suggestions which have been made by us in our attempt to reach a general agreement and gain the principal object in view. From the telegram being repeated to you from Paris, you will note that several points still remain to be settled and the attitude of Germany will be the principal factor determining the spirit in which these points can be taken up with the other countries involved.
Should it be essential in your opinion, in preparing the Germans for an announcement of the nature outlined above, you are authorized to notify them of the bases on which the discussions are being carried on. However, in that event you understand that it is essential that no information regarding the progress of negotiations or the nature thereof should leak back to Paris from Germany. Privately for your information, it is possible that if an accord is reached it may come within the next 2 days.
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