840.50 Recovery/9–1447: Telegram
The Acting Secretary of State to the Embassy in France
3528. Brit Emb Wash, at instance FonOff London, has requested views Dept on timing and content of material released to press concerning Paris Conf report, Brit feel that with signing of report Sept 22, leaks concerning its contents virtually inevitable. Accordingly, is their hope that official guidance to correspondents on contents report be made available as soon after signing as possible. At same time Brit do not wish do Secretary discourtesy of “reading in newspapers” contents report before it officially received by him.
Consequently they have proposed and Dept has concurred in issuance 1500 word official summary Wash and 16 Capitals at hour agreed to by 16 countries concerned, preferably Sept 22, date of signing.
Brit proposal is that summary prepared by Conf be cabled Wash for Secretary Sept 19 or 20.
Dept, while agreeing utility in prevention distorted leaks, feels strongly summary should (1) make clear, if such is case, that report is not final frozen one but tentative in sense of 1st report, and (2) that [Page 438] it adequately and fully presents contents, rather than slanted version to please US reader. We realize delicacy of revision your end but feel you should see in advance copy to be cabled for Secretary.1
According present plans time schedule release full report as follows: at least two copies, one for Secretary and one for printing here to be dispatched by Bevin following signing Monday 22nd. As many additional copies as feasible desired. Expected arrival here Tuesday 23rd or Wednesday 24th. To meet our printing schedule copy for printers must arrive Wednesday forenoon at latest. If agreement reached Paris, report to be handed correspondents Wash, London, Paris and presumably other Capitals, Friday, 26 or Sat, 27 for publication morning papers Sun, 28th—i.e. 7 PM EDT, Wash, midnight London and Paris, Sat, 27. Our understanding is report to be in 2 volumes: 1st report itself, 2nd appendices. Date release 2nd volume not now known. Reference point five your 3758, Sept 14, repeated London as 745, Dept feels matter presentation report to Secretary is for decision by Conf itself.
Repeated to London as 4032.
- For texts of (a) the summary released to the press on September 22 and (b) an accompanying statement by M. Hervé Alphand of France, Rapporteur General of the Conference, see Department of State Bulletin, October 5, 1947, p. 681.↩