890D.01/12–1845: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in France (Caffery)
60. If favorable opportunity presents itself you may wish to inform M. Bidault or some other appropriate Foreign Ministry official that Dept’s views re Anglo-French Levant agreement are those contained in first three paragraphs of Dept’s 5975, Dec. 20, 9 p.m.93a As stated in Dept’s 6069, Dec. 28, 7[8] p.m.,94 these views were made clear, at Mr. Bevin’s request, to Brit Govt which has indicated that substance thereof was communicated to French.
Oral communication received from Brit Emb here quotes Mr. Bevin as stating in fact that our views enabled Brit “to represent very [Page 1189] forcibly to French Govt objections which would be felt in America to the phrase ‘the leading role’ (contained in first draft agreement shown Dept) and as a result we were able eventually to induce French Govt to agree to revised wording which is not open to similar objection”.
Sent Paris. Repeated London and Beirut for Damascus.