711.4112Anti-War/86: Telegram
The Ambassador in France (Herrick) to the Secretary of State
[Received May 21—2:35 p.m.]
127. The British reply on the Peace Pact has been relatively very pleasing to French public opinion. The terms in which Chamberlain and Cushendun68 had voiced the approval of the British Government on our proposal had already pleased certain elements here, but the apprehension had been general that the British answer would approach an unconditional acceptance. The initial reaction here, consequently, is one of relief, and the British reply is taken as recognizing validity of France’s position and as taking her reservations into consideration.
A great interest is being taken in the passage in the British reply on freedom of action in regions the welfare and integrity of which are of special interest to the British Empire; this is characterized as British “Monroe Doctrine.”
- Lord Cushendun, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster.↩