740.00119 Control (Germany)/8–3046: Telegram
The Ambassador in France (Caffery) to the Secretary of State
[Received 7:23 p.m.]
4344. A French official dealing with German questions, who is close to Bidault, had an interesting conversation with the latter last evening. Bidault admitted that the French policy on Germany, particularly insistence that the Ruhr should be detached, had been a mistake. He said that he had inherited this policy from De Gaulle and that internal political reasons—(the elections and the general popularity of De Gaulle’s thesis on separation)—had made it impossible for him to reverse this policy. (Bidault, of course, capitalized on the popularity of this policy in the last electoral campaign.) My informant said Bidault told him that while he had modified his own views on the German problem and it was obviously in France’s interest to reach an agreement particularly with the Americans and British, it is impossible for him to make any change in policy until after the next elections. After the elections, however, he said he would work for a modification of French policy which would be acceptable to America and Britain.
My informant, who has been opposed to past French policy on Germany, particularly insofar as the Ruhr is concerned, is encouraged and believes Bidault is sincere.
(Should foregoing become known Bidault would be put on spot by Communists in vital pre-electoral period and therefore it should be considered top secret and not be repeated anywhere.)