851.51/2–846: Telegram

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

secret
us urgent

665: For the Ambassador. Urtel 547, Feb 4, 5 p.m.21 You may, in your discretion, discuss with Léon Blum the six points outlined in Dept’s 573 of Feb 4, 7 p.m. as basis for your conversation with Gouin, Bidault and Philip.

Please inform Blum that I have received his message and that I and Assistant Secretary Clayton and other officials will be happy to welcome him here and to discuss informally with him aspects of French political and economic policy of mutual interest to the two countries.

The suggested time period beginning Feb 22 is satisfactory to the Dept. Please keep the Dept informed of developments regarding the anticipated date and place of arrival in US of Mr. and Mrs. Blum. With reference to the arrival of French technical delegation, Dept is prepared to begin exploratory conversations on Mar 1 as indicated. You should point out to French Govt, however, that there will be a period, beginning Mar 8, when Vinson,22 Clayton, Collado23 and White will be in Savannah for organization of Monetary Fund and International Bank. Conversations on trade and commercial policy matters may continue during the period, but financial conversations on other than technical level would be precluded until the termination of Savannah meeting.

Byrnes
  1. Not printed.
  2. Fred M. Vinson, Secretary of the Treasury.
  3. Emilio G. Collado, Deputy on Financial Affairs to the Assistant Secretary of State for Economic Affairs.