PERSONAL MESSAGE FROM LORD HALIFAX FOR THE CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION
OF THE PRESIDENT.
His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom have now received
the final replies of the French and Soviet Governments to the
proposals summarized in my message of March 21st. They have also
received a preliminary indication of the views of the Polish
Government.
The Soviet reply expresses agreement and accepts the text of
the proposed declaration, which the Soviet Government will sign
as soon as France and Poland have accepted. The Soviet Government
are anxious that not only the Balkan but also the Baltic and
Scandinavian countries should be invited to adhere after publication.
The French reply expresses entire assent. In conversation
with the Prime Minister and myself in London the French Minister
for Foreign Affairs has however emphasized the importance of
Polish participation and the difficulty of securing this in view
of Soviet participation.
The Polish Minister for Foreign Affairs informed His Majesty's
Ambassador at Warsaw on March 21st that the proposal demanded
very serious consideration. His chief preoccupation was the suggested
participation of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics in view
of which Polish participation