740.00119 E.W./9–1145

The Ambassador in France (Caffery) to the Secretary of State

5439. For Clayton. Foreign Office was informed at noon, Sept 8 of reparation views of Dept as set forth in your 4206, Sept 6, 7 p.m.27 French reparation group considered our aide-mémoire same afternoon. Baraduc28 who received information commented as follows:

1.
Our statement of policy regarding treating Germany as a single economic unit for purposes of reparation and removal of industrial war potential (paragraph 4) was the most important part of message;
2.
Feb 1, 1946 deadline for receipt of final CC (Control Council) plan seemed very late date to him; and
3.
French Govt was anxiously awaiting our views on restitution policy and, upon their receipt, might be in a position to comment on our reparations policies.

Sent Dept 5439, rptd Moscow 317, London 666 for Byrnes and Winant and AmPolAd 121 for Murphy and Clay.

Caffery
  1. See telegram 1964 to Moscow p. 1283.
  2. Pierre Baraduc, Office of Economic Affairs, French Ministry for Foreign Affairs.