500.CC/3–645: Telegram
The Ambassador in France (Caffery) to the Secretary of State
[Received March 7—12:05 p.m.]
1063. The French, press this morning carried the following communiqué of the Foreign Ministry:
“The Provisional Government of the French Republic had been happy to accept the invitation to act with the Governments of the [Page 110] United States of America, Great Britain, of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and of China among the inviting powers at the San Francisco Conference.
The French Government desired in this respect that the proposed formula for the invitation include the indication that the Dumbarton Oaks plan would be considered as the basis of discussion for the conference, which was equivalent to specifying the possibility of amendments.
The French Government regrets that it has not been possible for the Governments of the United States, of Great Britain, of the USSR and of China to agree on the acceptance of such a formula within the time limit they had set.21
Firmly attached to the principle of collective security the Provisional Government of the French Republic as it made known to the Government of the United States of America on February 23,22 will participate in the work of the conference. The French delegation, faithful to France’s traditional views, will cooperate to the fullest extent in the elaboration of the new pact.”
- See telegram 632, March 5, 2 p.m., from Moscow, p. 106; in telegram 1031, March 5, 5 p.m., from Paris, Ambassador Caffery reported that Foreign Minister Bidault told him that “an answer had finally come from Catroux at Moscow and it was’no’.” (500.CC/3–545)↩
- French note transmitted in telegram 871, February 24, 4 p.m., from Paris, not printed; see footnote 67, p. 91.↩