740.0011 EW/6–1045: Telegram
The Ambassador in France ( Caffery ) to the Secretary of State
[Received June 11—1:22 a.m.]
3456. I took Bidault and Pleven to task this evening on subject of northwestern Italy having in mind Caserta’s 2538, June 9, noon.
An hour later Bidault telephoned me that “there has been a misunderstanding and French troops will be prepared to evacuate this area as you desire.”46
If this is sincere (or rather if de Gaulle is sincere) real efforts are being made to meet our requirements both in Italy and insofar as French zone of occupation in Germany is concerned (my 3455 June 10, 8 p.m.47) under these circumstances I feel that it would be definitely inadvisable to issue at this time any such statement about evacuation of French troops from northwestern Italy as envisaged in Caserta’s 2538, June 9, noon.
[Page 741]If we obtain our objective in Italy a statement from us or them unless French themselves desire it would place us in the position of trying to humiliate them further at time when they are still feeling both frustrated and humiliated over what has happened in the Levant.
Sent Dept, rptd Caserta 64.