880.00/7–1547: Telegram
The Ambassador in France (Caffery) to the Secretary of State
2799. Further to Deptel 2556, July 11, and my 2781, July 12,1 I have received informal indication from very high FonOff source that a recommendation may shortly be made to Bidault that the French take the initiative in asking us for our views and our help in solving problems in North Africa and Indochina. I can not at present forecast how Bidault will react to the suggestion, but tactically it would be so much better if the initiative were to come from the French that I feel strongly we should hold off for the moment. I should know the answer within a week or ten days.
- Latter not printed; it advised waiting until the end of the Conference of European Economic Cooperation, then in session, as Foreign Minister Bidault was engrossed in it (880.00/7–1247).↩