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  4. Document 173

840.50 Recovery/6–2847: Telegram

The Ambassador in France (Caffery) to the Secretary of State
secret
urgent
Paris, June 28—midnight.

2586. Duff Cooper described today’s meeting, which lasted only from five to eight, as “unsatisfactory and inconclusive”. (My telegram 2577 of June 28). Main items of discussion were:

1.
Molotov was persuaded to drop his proposal to ask the US how much aid they were prepared to give.
2.
Russians presented an agenda similar to that which the French had presented (central steering committee and ad hoc committees).
3.
Russians opposed any inquiry being made into the resources of European nations. (Duff Cooper believes that the conference will probably split on this and that the French will side with the British).
4.
Agreement that Germans would only be represented by the occupying powers.

Duff Cooper added that the French had showed “surprising firmness” at today’s meeting.

Bevin is “not keen” on the inclusion of Italy because it might involve the inclusion of one of the Soviet satellite countries although the French share our opinion on this.

Caffery