800.51W89 France/679: Telegram
The Ambassador in France (Edge) to the Secretary of State
[Received May 28—6:09 p.m.]
339. My number 337, May 27, 11 a.m. [p.m.]42 By appointment I called on Monsieur Tardieu this afternoon. I expressed keen disappointment at his determination as expressed in his letter last night to pass on to his successor the responsibility of dealing with the proposed debt suspension agreement. I outlined to him the assurance Monsieur Flandin had given and that my Government felt very strongly that after the British and German understanding there should be no question of executing the agreement without delay. I reminded him that Monsieur Flandin had assured me after the Cabinet has resigned that France would sign the agreement when satisfactory assurances had been received from Mr. MacDonald which in the meantime had been supplied. Monsieur Tardieu expressed regret that we should take the view I expressed and stated unequivocally that when the agreement had first been presented to him only 3 days ago it was his intention to sign it. However it was necessary as always in cases of this character that the proposal be submitted to the legal advisers of the Foreign Office and two out of three had reported to him that the agreement was of a nature requiring Parliamentary ratification. Upon reflection he himself had reached the same conclusion and therefore [it?] could not be considered routine business. Under the conditions he had definitely announced when he tendered the resignation of his Cabinet he felt he was disqualified from signing. He further intimated the embarrassment he would have in submitting an agreement to a new [Page 613] Parliament when he had lost his majority and could not understand what difference 1 or 2 weeks would make to [the?] plan.
I emphasized the unfortunate effect on American public opinion which would naturally follow publication of the fact that Great Britain, Italy, Belgium and other countries had found no objection to the agreement while France was introducing difficulties whatever their nature. He seemed to be impressed with the situation presented and stated that while he could not sign the agreement as he had clearly set forth in his letter to me a copy of which he advised me had been sent to Claudel he would nevertheless in order to demonstrate his desire to be helpful see his successor the moment the new Cabinet was formed which he assumed would be as early as June 5th and urge him to conclude the agreement. He knew that I was sailing on Wednesday and promised me that this would be the first matter he would submit to his successor’s attention. He expressed confidence that it would be disposed of promptly and even suggested that he would radio the Paris before it reaches New York on June 7 advising that Claudel had been authorized to sign.
I am repeating this detailed conversation in order to make clear that I really feel that Tardieu sincerely desires to have the matter disposed of as requested by the Treasury and the Department but of course there is no doubt that if criticism is to follow which is envisaged by newspaper comment he prefers to wish it on his successful political opponent.
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