851.5151/1929
Memorandum by the Assistant Adviser on
International Economic Affairs (Livesey) to
the Secretary of State
[Washington,] August 12,
1938.
Mr. Secretary: Mr. Wayne Taylor has just
telephoned (10 a.m.) the attached message received from Secretary
Morgenthau. Mr. Taylor said that is the only information he has as
to the suggested public statement. He presumes the idea may have
fallen through, particularly since Saturday and Monday are holidays
in Paris.
Mr. Taylor said that he has no thoughts to communicate to Mr.
Morgenthau on this message. He would be glad to receive any
suggestions from you.37
[Annex]
Telegram Received by the Treasury Department
From the Secretary of the Treasury, Temporarily in
France
[Antibes,] August 12,
1938.
I had Butterworth telephone Phillips this evening, Thursday, and
tell him that through our Embassy in Paris the French had
approached me to obtain a statement denying tripartite
stabilization discussions. That I had replied that an individual
statement did not seem to me either desirable or wise but that
if they felt their circumstances demanded a statement I would be
prepared to agree to a joint one to be issued simultaneously in
the 3 countries provided its form and substance was acceptable.
Phillips was told of the French reply to the effect that they
were taking the matter up with the British. Phillips said that
this was the first that he had heard of the matter. He expressed
appreciation for being given this background information and he
did not seem opposed to the issuance of an innocuous statement.
He volunteered that the French Fund had had another bad day but
no worse than recent ones. Please inform Hull of the contents of
this despatch.
