Notebook contains the French request (5)
I believe the answer is:
plead
'request' is the definition.
(I know that plead is a kind of appeal)
'notebook contains the french' is the wordplay.
'notebook' becomes 'pad' (a notepad).
'contains' is an insertion indicator.
'the french' becomes 'le' ('the' in French).
'pad' going around 'le' is 'PLEAD'.
(Other definitions for plead that I've seen before include "Make an emotional appeal" , "Supplicate" , "State whether one is guilty or not" , "Present an argument in court" , "advocate in court" .)