851.00/5–1847: Telegram

The Secretary of State to the Embassy in France
secret

1837. Callender NY Times story May 19 plays up official “French fears US loans might impair France’s independence or sovereignty” with extensive quotations from alleged statements of Ramadier and Daniel Mayer1 asking whether such future loans would be “dictated by political realities” (Ramadier) and whether “certain American capitalists might not oblige us to act against Russia” (Mayer). Moving into vaguer area Callender speaks of French fears that NY bankers and Pres Truman frown on nationalization and that bankers would demand concessions or trade rights within empire restricting French sovereignty there.

Granting possible erroneous emphasis (story omits Bidault statement on loans penultimate para Embtel 19872) and traditional if unrealistic fear entertained by doctrinaire socialists of “American capitalism” Dept somewhat concerned effect of Socialist utterances and press stories arising therefrom. If any discreet corrective action appropriate please take it. Any case furnish comments.

Marshall
  1. French Minister of Labor.
  2. Not printed.