761.6211/102: Telegram
The Ambassador in France (Bullitt) to the Secretary of State
[Received August 24—4 p.m.]
1576. Léger informed me today that the French Government had sent orders to the French Ambassador in Moscow to demand an immediate interview with Molotov and to request within 24 hours an interpretation of the agreement entered into between Germany and the Soviet Union and an explanation of whether or not it is incompatible with the Franco-Soviet treaty of mutual assistance. He added that if Molotov should refuse such an explanation the French and British military missions would be recalled from Moscow at once.
Léger said that the Turkish Government today had asked the French Government for its interpretation of the position created by the German-Soviet agreement. The Turks obviously were intensely disturbed to find that the Soviet Union might be on the side of Germany. Léger said that he still felt that the Turks would fight on the side of the French and British but was no longer sure.
Léger said that he considered war in the next few days almost inevitable and that he could see no way to avoid it. The French Government was persistently determined to support the Poles and the British Government had assured the French Government that it was no less determined to honor its obligations to Poland.