740.00/948: Telegram
The Ambassador in the United Kingdom (Kennedy) to the Secretary of State
London, April 18,
1939—7 p.m.
[Received April 18—2:26 p.m.]
[Received April 18—2:26 p.m.]
514. My 504, April 17, 9 p.m.53 Following strictly confidential information communicated by the Foreign Office.
The Soviet Government has now presented to the British and French Governments the following proposals which it states are a combination of the British suggestion for a unilateral Soviet declaration and French suggestion for bilateral declarations.
- 1.
- An agreement is proposed between Great Britain, France and Russia to run from 5 to 10 years to render all manner of assistance including military in case of aggression in Europe against any one of those powers.
- 2.
- The same undertaking on the part of the three countries to render assistance to Eastern European states between the Baltic and the Black Sea and bordering on Soviet Russia in case of aggression against those countries.
- 3.
- To undertake to discuss and settle in the shortest possible space of time the extent and forms of military assistance which would be required if (1) and (2) were accepted.
- 4.
- England to make an explanation that the assistance she is to give to Poland in the event of an attack against that country applies only against Germany. The Soviet Government apparently thinks that there is one ambiguity in the British commitment and that in some quarters the Soviet Republic thought that her guarantee extended also to aggression against Poland by Soviet Russia.
- 5.
- The Polish-Rumanian treaty54 to be declared operative in all cases of aggression from any quarter or revoked as directed solely against Soviet Russia.
- 6.
- The three countries to make an agreement that they will negotiate no separate peace with a joint enemy.
- 7.
- An agreement to be signed to this effect simultaneously with the agreements envisaged under (3) above.
- 8.
- To recognize the necessity for joint negotiations with Turkey because of the possibility that the Turkish Government might wish to confine its liabilities to the Balkan and Mediterranean areas.
It will be seen that the foregoing proposals are very far reaching and there is no indication as yet of the British reaction.
Kennedy