740.00119 Council/3–2047: Telegram

The Secretary of State to the President and the Acting Secretary of State

secret
urgent

914. Delsec 1323. For the President and Acheson from Marshall. Tenth CFM 20 March, Marshall presiding. Bidault opened by stating that he had nothing to add to the previously expressed French view on the Saar, and that as regards the Ruhr, France had held since the end of 1945 that it should come under a special regime, involving international control. He felt that this matter should be started at once and not await a complete economic unity for Germany. He took exception to Bevin’s prior views on coal, pointing out that it was the basis of French economy and yet the per capita consumption in Germany was presently greater than that in France. He stated categorically that he could not agree on the problems of economic unity, level of industry and reparations, without a previous settlement that France’s coal requirements would be met. He then proposed that Germany’s steel production be limited to 7½ million tons per year. Bidault suggested that the Deputies be directed to define economic unity and to make a plan for the central agencies that would apply such unity. After discussing reparations, he proposed further study on the matter.40

Bevin discarded, with considerable emphasis, Bidault’s condition that France must get the coal she needs before they discuss economic unity and related matters. He deplored such a method of opposition in the settlement of a treaty which affects all the world. He stood fast [Page 266] on Britain’s view on the Ruhr and suggested that we hear all ACC matters before directing the Deputies to report.

Vyshinsky, as Chairman of the German Deputies, then made a preliminary report which indicated general agreement to the formation of 4 committees to lay the framework for the German peace treaty. He continued by pointing out the present status of disagreements within the Deputies and asked for 3 additional days in order that the Deputies might agree on a formal report indicating their disagreement.

The CFM authorized the Deputies 3 additional days, called for the Austrian Deputies to make a progress report tomorrow, and agreed to discuss the Provisional Government of Germany tomorrow if time were available.

Repeated London 90, Paris 70, Vienna 7, Berlin 126.

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Marshall
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  1. For the text of Foreign Minister Bidault’s statement on the economic principles of a German settlement, which was circulated to the Council as document CFM (47) (M) 35, March 20, see Déclarations de Bidault , pp. 20–25.