For the last three days, there has been noise and confusion on the political stock exchange of Europe. Archimbaud,

Léon Archimbaud, Radical Party Deputy of Drôme, 1919–40.

a Radical deputy, speaking on the defence budget in the French National Assembly on 22 November, said among other things that a military defence alliance exists between France and the USSR. This immediately caused uproar in all the European capitals. The Parisian minister of foreign affairs [Laval]

Pierre Laval, prime minister of France, 1931–32, 1935–36, 1940 and 1942–44; foreign minister, 1934–36.

came out with a démenti, albeit a rather evasive one. M.M., who is presently in Geneva, rather cunningly told the journalists: it is up to Laval, not me, to correct Archimbaud. Yesterday Archimbaud himself offered some explanations to the press regarding his statement at the Assembly. Formally denying the existence of an alliance, he at the same time created the impression that it could be concluded at any moment. Allegedly, the ground for such an alliance has been thoroughly prepared. Here in England the press made a sensation out of Archimbaud’s statement, and I had to calm things down a bit.