765.84/3078: Telegram
The Ambassador in France (Straus) to the Secretary of State
[Received December 16—10 a.m.]
1046. Marriner talked with Massigli20 this morning who feels that the total result of the efforts to arrive at a plan acceptable to Italy and Ethiopia has been a definite set back; that the small nations in Geneva are most highly indignant at the whole proceeding and will certainly press for nonacceptance of the proposal and possible extension of sanctions. He feels that the situation in Great Britain is much embittered by Sir Samuel’s acceptance of the terms suggested, the whole thing having been made singularly worse by the leak in the French press which made it possible to publish the day following the conversations a reasonably accurate summary of the contents of the proposals. Massigli felt that the situation, bad as it was, did not endanger the Laval Government here since Herriot had been aware of the proposals before Laval went to Geneva and likewise because from the way the parliamentary program was arranged there was no present possibility of a vote of confidence on these proposals before the Christmas recess. Massigli said that they would all be arrived at Geneva under blacker circumstances than ever before and no one could foresee the outcome. He felt that Mussolini had failed to play a trump card when he failed to accept the conditions exactly as proposed and his quibbling and delay were a further indication of the lack of judgment which made the whole outlook dark.
- René Massigli, Assistant Director for Political Affairs at the French Ministry for Foreign Affairs.↩