800.51W89 Belgium/187: Telegram
The Chargé in Belgium (Mayer) to the Secretary of State
[Received 1 p.m.]
38. Department’s 18. I brought the matter immediately to the Belgian Government’s attention in the manner directed in the penultimate paragraph of the Department’s telegram.
[Page 591]According to Mr. Van Langenhove the facts are that this question has been left by the powers concerned in the hands of the British Government as negotiator and spokesman it might be said, purpose being that the debtor countries concerned were awaiting Germany’s signature to the protocol before affixing their own. A report just received from London by the Foreign Office which was read to me indicates that the Germans are now in accord except for a few unimportant modifications and I gathered the Under Secretary of State here expects the matter to be definitely arranged in a few days. Parenthetically he wished me especially to explain to you that the Belgian Government believed that the British Foreign Office speaking for the debtor countries concerned was keeping the Department au courant with the technical difficulties which thus far had prevented signature of the agreement, otherwise the Belgian Government would have informed us directly as regards themselves.
The Under Secretary of State gave me definitely to understand that Belgium was entirely in accord in principle and only deferring signature to the agreement from the point of view of solidarity among the debtor countries concerned; that if and when she17 signs or gives definite assurance that she will sign the Belgian Government will do likewise.
To facilitate our negotiations it is requested that the Department instruct the Embassy at London to repeat here any definitive affirmation by the British Government of signature or assurance of the same.
The Under Secretary of State promised to advise me early next week with regard to this matter. I shall not fail to follow it up with the closest attention and report progress. Repeated to London and Paris.
- i. e., Great Britain.↩