740.0011 Mutual Guarantee (Locarno)/460: Telegram
The Chargé in the United Kingdom (Atherton) to the Secretary of State
[Received March 11—9:25 a.m.]
102. The Cabinet agreed that Eden should go to Paris in response to the summoning of the Locarno signatories merely as a gesture to the French. His instructions were to undertake no binding commitment [Page 233] and to leave Paris by Wednesday. When it became evident that the British and French attitudes were irreconcilable as to the terms under which negotiations could be opened under the Hitler proposals the Cabinet welcomed the changes of venue from Paris and Geneva to London, particularly since this would permit of more direct consultation with the German representative.
The French have stiffened in their attitude considerably since the Sunday conversations with Eden for the reasons given in my 100, March 10, 4 p.m., and I understand are now endeavoring to obtain a perpetuation of the promise of temporary support to France and Belgium given by Eden in his Monday’s statement in the House of Commons. In the London view this is an impossible request since it would be equivalent of the formation of a military alliance between Great Britain, France and Belgium. In this connection the Russian Ambassador here, under instructions, yesterday made known his Government’s opposition to negotiations with Germany and Russia’s anxiety in effect to foster the further encirclement of Germany through the “most resolute action” by the League Council.
The belief is current here that Germany will send a representative to London, possibly Ribbentrop,77 but it is still doubtful whether he will be empowered to attend the League Council meeting scheduled here for the week end.
- Joachim von Ribbentrop, German special representative for the Chancellor of the Reich; appointed, March 17, 1936, German representative to the 91st League of Nations Council session.↩