711.51/7–1847
Communication by the French Foreign Minister ( Bidault )20
According to details given M. Chauvel by Sir Edmund Hall Patch, in presence of Mr. Bonbright, on the negotiations concerning Germany which are presently taking place between the American and British Governments, the scope which these negotiations have taken is a matter of great surprise to the French Government.
[Page 993]On two essential points, namely, the control of the Ruhr mines and the industrial level of Germany, it would appear that the two Governments have worked out a series of measures which obviously exceed the normal administrative measures taken by an Occupying Power.
Without prejudice to any later observations which the French Government may wish to advance regarding all or part of the proposals of which it has not yet been completely informed, the French Government wishes immediately to draw the attention of the British and American Governments in the most urgent manner to the fact that it cannot consider the British Government, acting alone as occupying Power of the Zone which has been turned over to it, nor the American and British Governments acting together in reason of the fusion of the American and British Zones, as being qualified to act in so far as the control of mines in the Ruhr and the industrial level of Germany are concerned. These two matters are the concern of the Council of Foreign Ministers and of the future Peace Conference, and no decisions which either one may make can be prejudged, either legally or de facto.
Furthermore, the French Government must point out to the American and British Governments that to raise the level of Germany industry substantially at the present time when American aid to Europe is still uncertain would be to give priority to the reconstruction of Germany over the reconstruction of France and other countries which were victims of German aggression.
If the American and British Governments confirm the proposals which they have formulated on these two points, the French Government will be forced to protest solemnly and publicly, and to make all reservations as to the various consequences which will inevitably follow.
- The source text, a translation, was transmitted to the Department as enclosure 4 to despatch 9253, July 18, from Paris, not printed. The original French text had been transmitted in telegram 2856, July 17, from Paris, not printed (711.51/7–1747). Regarding the circumstances in which Foreign Minister Bidault handed this paper to Ambassador Caffery on July 17, see footnote 19, p. 991.↩