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  4. Document 160

840.50 Recovery/6–2347: Telegram

The Ambassador in the Soviet Union (Smith) to the Secretary of State
top secret
Moscow, June 23, 1947—5 p. m.

2246. Although apparent now that Molotov will participate in conversations in Paris regarding a European economic plan, I feel sure that this participation will be for destructive rather than constructive purposes. British and French Ambassadors here have privately expressed same view to me. Reason for my opinion is that intelligent and well implemented plan for economical recovery would militate against the present Soviet political objectives.1

Smith
  1. In telegram 2487, from Paris, not printed, Ambassador Caffery reported that French officials feared that Molotov’s coming was designed to sabotage the Marshall plan. (840.00/6–2347)↩