800.51W89 France/948
The French Ambassador (De Laboulaye) to the Acting Secretary of State
Mr. Secretary of State: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of November 28 last, and in reply to transmit herewith the following communication from my Government:
“Inasmuch as no new factor has developed with respect to war debts since the resolution voted by the Chamber of Deputies on December 13, 1932, the French Government regrets that it is not in a position usefully to initiate a new debate on the question, and is obliged to postpone the payments due December 15 next.
“Nevertheless, in order to remove any possibility of misunderstanding it desires to recall the tenor of this resolution.
“The French Chamber has never contemplated the unilateral violation of undertakings freely entered into, which would have been contrary to the invariable traditions of France. But it judged that the decisions which were taken on both sides in 1931 and 1932 in the hopes of facilitating the economic recovery of the world had modified conditions which formerly existed, and justify new arrangements which take into account the changes thus brought about.
“The French Government cannot of course fail to recognize the difficulties which the achievement of such a new arrangement would involve. Nevertheless it hopes that such difficulties may be overcome and that in the near future a solution of the problem of war debts acceptable to both countries may be anticipated.
“For its part it will consider it a duty not to neglect any of the possibilities which may arise in order to attain this end.”
Accept [etc.]