793.94/3452
Memorandum by the Secretary of State
When the French Chargé came I reminded him of my talk with M. Claudel and my statement that while I did not feel it would be appropriate for us to comply with Mr. Briand’s request that we should make a démarche under the Resolution of the League of December 9th, I nevertheless would make one under our own treaties. I told the Ambassador [Chargé?] that I this morning had sent to both China and Japan a note in the form of the copy which I handed him. I told him that in this note we based our position upon both the Nine-Power Treaty and the Pact of Paris, and that I was therefore notifying the fellow signatories of the Nine-Power Treaty of our action; that [Page 11] although I had not made any effort to obtain concerted action, I should appreciate it very much if the other Powers followed somewhat similar action, especially France.13
I inquired about M. Briand’s health. He said that while M. Briand was confined to his room and saw only M. Berthelot, he had not had any stroke. Mr. Henry then mentioned that M. Maginot, the War Minister, had had a stroke and died last night. I expressed my sympathy and said I would send a telegram.
- A like suggestion was made at the time copies of the note were handed to representatives of Belgium, Great Britain, Italy, the Netherlands, and Portugal. Memoranda of these conversations not printed.↩