501.BD–Europe/6–2747: Telegram
The Ambassador in France (Caffery) to the Secretary of State
2548. Bidault told me last night that immediately upon his arrival Molotov asked him what he and Bevin had done behind his back. Bidault denied that they had done anything behind his back; said they met and agreed to invite Molotov to join them. Bidault said that he is leary of ECE and sympathizes with our point of view. He added that he hopes that Molotov has come here to cooperate, but whether he cooperates or not, France is determined to go ahead.
Finally he said: “I was frightened this morning by the newspaper account of some remarks of your Secretary of the Treasury but since I have seen the way your Radio Bulletin carries it and I feel better.1 However, I devoutly hope that in case we on our side do accomplish something your Congress will do its part. If they failed us it would be sheer disaster here.”
Sent Department as 2548; repeated London as 486.
- See Department of State Wireless Bulletin, June 25, 1947, for the substance of Secretary Snyder’s press conference comment and subsequent statement concerning Secretary Marshall’s proposal that the initiative for drafting a European recovery program come from Europe.↩