862.5018/12–946: Telegram
Mr. Donald Heath, Counselor of Mission in the Office of the United States Political Adviser for Germany (Murphy), to the Secretary of State
[Received 1:10 p.m.]
585. From Mayer,13 Baden-Baden, No. 2, December 7, noon. During the past week, several French officials have intimated that they feel American authorities are putting pressure on French Government, by [Page 650] not making available food supplies needed for French zone and French sector, Berlin to agree to economic unification of French zone with American and British zones. They have told me further cutting bread ration is unavoidable if wheat and flour supplies are not forthcoming soon. Being completely uninformed about representations made by French Government and American authorities’ response, it has been difficult for me to discuss matter intelligently.
While no change in French attitude toward economic unification can be expected before installation of new government in January and possibility of change then will depend on character of government, I am inclined to believe that even if government were amenable to principle of unification, it would be politically impossible for it to agree to unification if burden on French tax-payer resulted. French officials here have express[ed] surprise at willingness of British and American Governments to underwrite recently concluded program for British and American zones.
Contrary to British–American zones, administration of French is resulting in a favorable rather than unfavorable trade balance. Exports from zone this year will amount to some 50 million dollars. While I do not know value of imports, I doubt if they exceed 30 to 35 millions. I hope to be able to submit further information on subject in near future.
Sent Department as 585, repeated Berlin as 80, to Paris as 63. [Mayer.]
- Ernest Mayer, U.S. Consul at Baden-Baden.↩