800.51W89 France/724: Telegram
The Chargé in France (Marriner) to the Secretary of State
[Received November 12—10:25 a.m.]
647. Bizot of the French Treasury states that the decision to request postponement of the December 15 payment was taken some time ago and action on it merely held up until after the election. The definite text of the note was completed at the Treasury on Wednesday and sent to the Foreign Office for editing and despatch on Thursday.
With reference to consultation with the British, Bizot stated that there has been no agreement on this subject but that in accordance with the spirit of the Gentlemen’s Agreement77 there had been a full exchange of information.
In this connection it is interesting to note that Sir Warren Fisher, Permanent Undersecretary of the British Treasury, spent about 3 weeks at the British Embassy in Paris from approximately October 7th to November 1st.
Bizot let it be known that Norman Davis had been an courant for some time of the decision and was familiar also with the Britsh intentions.
I immediately telephoned Mr. Davis in Geneva who said that this did not correspond to his recollections on the subject and that he would send a telegram to the Department commenting on it.78