740.0011 Mutual Guarantee (Balkan)/164: Telegram
The Ambassador in France (Bullitt) to the Secretary of State
[Received January 16—11:15 a.m.]
68. For the Secretary and Moore. I questioned Léger this morning with regard to the project reported to the Department in my telegram 1273, December 18, 1 p.m., 1936.
Léger said that the French Government had offered to enter into pacts of mutual assistance with Yugoslavia and Rumania (as well as one with Czechoslovakia) provided Yugoslavia, Rumania and Czechoslovakia should alter their present obligations for defense against Hungary and Bulgaria into a general pact of mutual assistance against attack from any source.
Léger said that no progress had been made because Yugoslavia was not anxious to disturb her present relations with Germany and Italy and feared German and Italian resentment. He said that Czechoslovakia was most anxious to conclude such a pact and he believed that Rumania would agree provided the objections of Yugoslavia could be overcome.