Moscow Embassy Files: 500 Conference of Foreign Ministers: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in France (Caffery)73
450. In accordance with my promise to Ambassador Bonnet,74 please seek an immediate interview with Bidault and inform him that I am hopeful of reaching agreement with the British and Soviet Foreign Ministers on a formula for the resumption of the work on the preparation of peace treaties with Italy, Roumania, Bulgaria, Hungary and Finland. That formula, which closely follows the one I submitted in the final days of the Council of Foreign Ministers meeting at London, provides for the convocation of a peace conference as outlined therein and for full hearing and discussion by all the invited states on all five treaties and for consideration of their recommendations by States signatory to the terms of the respective armistices. The formula and list of states to be invited follow in my next succeeding telegram.75
Please emphasize to Bidault that the formula is being given him in strict confidence until officially made public.
You may add that I have constantly borne in mind the important interest of France in all five treaties. Please acknowledge receipt.76
- A similar telegram (No. 245, December 20) was sent to the Chargé in China for the information of the Chinese Foreign Minister, Wang Shih-chieh.↩
- See the Secretary’s memorandum of conversation with M. Bonnet on December 7, p. 601.↩
- Telegram 451, December 20, infra.↩
- Telegram 459, December 21, from Paris to Moscow, reported that Bidault bad received the Secretary’s message and expressed his “gratitude and appreciation” and sent his best wishes (Moscow Embassy Files: 500 Conference of Foreign Ministers).↩