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diplomatic interchanges might result on the part of the
 
neutrals in a crystallization and coincidence of views
 
with regard to the after-war problems of the limitation
 
and reduction of armaments, and the creation of a liberal
 
international economic system. I said to the Minister
 
that I had brought with me in memorandum form the outline
 
of the views of my Government with regard to the latter
 
problem, and that I would very gladly have him read this
 
memorandum. The Minister read it, and expressed emphatic
 
acquiescence in all of its details. I then said to the
 
Minister that if the principles so laid down were supported
 
by the French Government, I belleyed It would be of the 
 
utmost importance that the policy of the French Government 
 
in such regard, insofar as the post-war period is con-
 
cerned, be made known to the public. He immediately
 
adopted the suggestion, said he would dictate a few sen-
 
tences expressing the adherence of the French Government 
 
to the principles so outlined, and said that he would
 
issue a communique to the Press in those terms before 
 
the end of the day. This he subsequently did.
 
     During our conversation in his office, and at lunch,
 
the Minister discussed in an exceedingly temperate,
 
moderate and constructive fashion the present situation,
 
the problems created by the actions of Germany in the
 
past three or four years, and the post-war settlements
 
which would arise after the war.
 
     He said that he was rightly regarded as the "hardest"
 
man in the French Government with regard to French rela-
 
tions with Germany. He added that in September 1938, as
 
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