740.0011 Mutual Guarantee (Locarno)/424: Telegram
The Chargé in the United Kingdom (Atherton) to the Secretary of State
[Received March 12—6:20 p.m.]
113. This evening shows no great change although French Embassy states that Eden informed Flandin that if France did not press this Government too hard, he hoped to bring British public opinion to understand French position more clearly.
This afternoon the German Ambassador, referring to a conversation that he had at the Foreign Office yesterday, informed Eden that Germany cannot enter into discussions bearing on the nature of sovereignty over German territory but that the present movement of troops [Page 239] into the Rhineland was only symbolical and numbered only 19,000. He went on to say there would be no increase of these numbers nor would they be stationed near the frontiers during the period of negotiation if France and Belgium would give a similar understanding.
I understand the communiqué issued at the end of this afternoon’s meeting has been cabled by press. The Locarno Powers will meet again tomorrow morning.
There is a noticeable increase in public tension this afternoon.