740.00/797
Memorandum of Conversation, by the Chief of the Division of European Affairs (Moffat)
The French Ambassador96 called this afternoon to talk over developments in Europe. He said that he had dined the previous evening at the White House with the President who had made no secret that the French Government was more alarmed than it had ever been. The tenor of his own telegrams this morning showed the same state of worry. He himself was unable to account for this and asked if I could throw any light. I did not desire to give him the substance of Mr. Bullitt’s telegrams, as he undoubtedly wished, and contented myself with saying that I thought the French were very much upset that the British seemed to be attaching more value to Italian assurances with regard to the future than the French felt was justified.
The Ambassador then went on to say that he was very concerned over the debates on neutrality in the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.97 He had spoken to the Secretary about this yesterday in an informal way, as should he take up the matter officially and it become known, it might react against French interests. Nevertheless, Paris was very concerned over the delay and although they had perfect [Page 127] confidence that ultimately matters would work out, any prolongation of the period of discussion and uncertainty was bound to have unfavorable repercussions.