800.51W89 France/965
Memorandum by the Under Secretary of State
(Phillips)
[Washington,] February 16,
1934.
I showed this memorandum to the President, who said in reply that he
was not contemplating at present any message to Congress on this
subject.
Feb. 16. I have telephoned the above to the French
Ambassador20 today.
[Enclosure]
Memorandum by the Under Secretary of
State (Phillips)
[Washington,] February 15,
1934.
The French Ambassador asked me this morning whether the President
had any intention of sending to Congress in the near future a
message dealing with war debts. He said that he was asking the
question entirely on his own responsibility. He wished to assure
me once more that he had never lost an opportunity in his
efforts to persuade his Government to make a payment on account.
He was under the impression that the new French Government21 might be
willing to consider France’s indebtedness to the United States
and it was because of this impression that he would like to be
able to notify his Government in advance of any new steps to be
taken by the President. In other words, he seemed to feel that,
if the President was contemplating a message to Congress on the
subject,22 the
French Government might consider the wisdom of making a
favorable gesture in advance of any such action.
