840.50 Recovery/7–247: Telegram
The Ambassador in France (Caffery) to the Secretary of State
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2631. Bevin says that at yesterday’s session the French produced a proposal1 “to reconcile the difference of views”. Bidault said that “Europe must put up a coordinated plan of her economy” and that the United States would then be in a position to supply “the supplement”. Europe was to help itself and this could be done without any “interference with sovereignty”.
Molotov’s first remark was with regard to a statement made by Bidault that German production was of interest, but would, of course, have to be dealt with subject to the assent of the four occupying powers. He asked whether Germany would be expected to contribute to the recovery of Europe before taking care of reparations. He then added that he had just received the French proposal and suggested that the meeting be adjourned until tomorrow in order to consider it.
Bevin then said that he would agree to adjourn on the understanding that an agreement would be reached tomorrow.
[Page 305]Bevin tells me that if Molotov comes out with a proposal tomorrow, it will be examined. If there is no modification in Molotov’s attitude, he said, the British were prepared to go along without the Soviets and he expected the French to stay with them (the British).
- For text of this proposal, see French Yellow Book, pp. 55–57.↩