763.72113/2765: Telegram
The Ambassador in France (Bullitt) to the Secretary of State
[Received June 16—1:50 p.m.]
942. Department’s telegram No. 372, June 15, 11 a.m.5 Terms of department’s May 13th transmitted to the Minister of Foreign Affairs [Page 338] May 17. Since then repeated efforts have been made to hasten reply. To this end a member of the Embassy staff has on several occasions carefully gone over with the competent French officials various points which appeared to them obscure or were apparently misunderstood.
Office of Private Property and Interests this morning assured member of the Embassy staff who called there that the text of the French reply will be placed before its managing body for approval early next week and should be in the hands of the Embassy before the end of the month. Responsible official confidentially stated that the reply will indicate acceptance of the conditions which have been outlined in the various exchanges of correspondence since September last and in addition will set forth and summarize the understanding of the French Government of these conditions. It was said that it may also embody suggestions of the French Government with respect to the procedure that might be followed by American and French claimants for the return of their property under the terms of the reciprocal arrangement. In this respect it was intimated that the French Government will propose a plan under which the total amount involved in the claims approved shall be turned over to the one and [sic] the other governments for distribution and transmission to their respective nationals. It is felt that such procedure will eliminate complications that would be sure to arise in certain cases if an attempt were made by each Government to deal directly with the nationals of the other.
- Not printed.↩