840.50 Recovery/7–147: Telegram
The Ambassador in France (Caffery) to the Secretary of State
urgent niact
2606. For the Secretary. I have just seen Couve de Murville who confirms in detail the information given me by Bevin last night (my 2603, July 1). Couve also gave me text of proposal which Molotov tabled yesterday, which is being transmitted in my immediately following [Page 304] telegram.1 The Molotov proposal is simply a resume of position he took on Friday and Saturday.
Couve expects conference to break up shortly after it reconvenes at 4 o’clock this afternoon. He said that French regret that Soviets will not cooperate because it means that they will prevent countries of central and eastern Europe from cooperating in an effective European plan. Despite this he said French are as determined as British to try and work out an effective plan for western Europe. He believes Dutch, Belgians, Italians and possibly Denmark will be willing to join with them but at this juncture he is still not sure which, if any, other countries will be willing to go along.
He concluded by stating that French believe their efforts to include Soviets were worthwhile particularly since it should establish clearly to everyone that it is Moscow which has refused to cooperate.
Sent Department; repeat London as 503, repeated to Geneva for Clayton as 69.
- Telegram not printed. For text of this proposal, see French Yellow Book, pp. 49–50.↩