851.5151/1734: Telegram
The Ambassador in France (Bullitt) to the Secretary of State
[Received February 24—10:50 a.m.]
294. From Cochran. At 11:00 a.m. today I saw Minister of Finance Marchandeau and referred to our conversation of February 18 in which he inquired whether the American Treasury was disposed to open with France and England conversations under the Tripartite Agreement. See my 268, February 18, 6 p.m.
I told the Minister of Finance that his inquiry had been communicated to the Secretary of the Treasury and that the latter upon his return to Washington after a few days absence had authorized me to inform the Minister of Finance that we are ready at any time to listen but that it is essential particularly considering the international political atmosphere that any consultations and conversations that may take place within the framework of the Tripartite should be strictly confidential and technical. The Minister of Finance agreed that it is highly necessary that our talks be secret and that the methods of contact and communication heretofore utilized in technical monetary discussions be employed. In this connection he said that Monick would return to Paris at the end of the week to report any progress that he has made in London although the Minister doubted whether much could have been done because of the British Cabinet crisis. The Minister of Finance will get in touch with me after he has received Monick’s report.
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Bullitt