033.5111 Laval, Pierre/14: Telegram
The Ambassador in France (Edge) to the Secretary of State
[Received September 25—12:15 p.m.]
600. Our 591, September 21, 6 p.m. The Council of Ministers met this morning and I was informed at the conclusion of the session at half past 12 that it had unanimously decided in favor of Prime Minister Laval’s visit to the United States. I delivered the invitation for the Prime Minister in the following terms:
“Acting under instructions of the Secretary of State I have the honor to inform you that the President would be most happy if it were convenient for you to visit him and that the President feels that such an opportunity for a personal acquaintance and discussion would be of the greatest value”.
Under cover of a note to Monsieur Briand as follows:
“I have the honor to enclose a copy of the invitation to visit the United States which on the instruction of my Government I shall present today to His Excellency the Prime Minister.
I avail myself of this occasion to express the hope that the visit of the President of the Council of Ministers will furnish a further constructive link in the long and historic chain of Franco-American understanding and I renew to Your Excellency the assurance of my highest consideration”.