500.A15A4/2492: Telegram
The Ambassador in Great Britain (Bingham) to the Secretary of State
[Received April 19—4:15 p.m.]
181. My 179, April 19.8 Strang stated this afternoon tone of French note of reply was a complete surprise to British Government [Page 52] which had as yet not been able to make known its opinion. Foreign Office aim, however, for the moment would be to maintain as unprejudiced a press as possible. Strang felt Barthou had been overruled in composing the French note of reply by Tardieu and Herriot.
Foreign Office states Henderson also is completely surprised by French note but has no leeway in the matter of the Bureau meeting. He is willing to attempt to postpone it a week, however, if thereby he can obtain the presence of M. Barthou at Geneva on the completion of latter’s approaching visit to Warsaw. Foreign Office favors this suggestion of Henderson and also believes that Bureau meeting must thresh out the aims and agenda of the May Council meeting.
Repeated to Geneva.
- Not printed.↩