500.A15A4 General Committee/717: Telegram

The Chargé in Frame (Marriner) to the Acting Secretary of State

575. Yesterday Sir John Simon and M. Paul-Boncour compared notes on the German demands in armament. The information received by Poncet and Phipps was found to be the same in every respect. The only additional factor being the reply of Hitler to a personal question of the French Ambassador as to when the control envisaged might be expected to go into effect. The Chancellor said evasively that this was a question to be studied when an appropriate treaty should be completed. This disquieted the French.

The two Foreign Ministers agreed that every effort should be made to obtain a treaty at Geneva containing real and substantial measures of disarmament. Paul-Boncour stressed that no one could stand before the world and permit rearmament. Sir John Simon was not out of sympathy with this point of view. In fact I learn that he seems stiffer against German arms increase than at any time recently. It would appear to be the consensus of their opinion to go to Geneva and make public declarations of the steps in disarmament which they are prepared to make and await Germany’s attitude.

The question of League reorganization was touched upon and Sir John gave full satisfaction to the French in agreeing that it was no time to tamper with the Covenant.

Sir John talked with the Czech Minister83 in Paris who told him that the conversations with Benes had developed along the same lines as the Franco-British.

Mailed London, Berlin, Rome and Geneva.

Marriner
  1. Štefan Osuský.