740.00119 Council/6–948: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Embassy in France 1
us urgent
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2027. For the Ambassador. Although we fully recognize the very serious difficulties involved in the presentation of the German recommendations to the Assembly and the real danger, particularly in the light of De Gaulle’s speech,2 that the Government may not be able to secure acceptance of the program, nevertheless we hope Bidault will avoid the attitude of encouraging suggested changes or reservations. There have been implications in press reports from Paris today that he may be planning this. As you know and as the French Government is aware the Conference recommendations are to be treated as a whole. This does not naturally exclude ultimate modification of program by evolution and common agreement and you may so inform Schuman or Bidault if it will be helpful.3
- This telegram was repeated to London as 2152 and to Berlin as 1013.↩
- On June 9 General de Gaulle made a statement opposing the London Conference recommendations on Germany.↩
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In telegram 3089, June 10, from Paris, not printed, Ambassador Caffery reported that he had again emphasized to the leaders of all French political parties (except the Communists) that the London recommendations stood as a whole and could not be changed or whittled down. Caffery added that this telegram was definitely helpful. (740.00119 Council/6–1048)
In his telegram 2565, June 10, from London, not printed, Ambassador Douglas observed that the final sentence of this telegram required clarification, and he expressed the following view:
↩“While, of course, it is of the utmost importance that France be carried and that we do not behave in an excessively inflexible manner, it seems to me that the precise meaning of this sentence should be made clear so that we may be able, in the future, to avoid protracted discussions and Fabian tactics which could operate to create confusion and to frustrate the application of our program in Germany.” (740.00119 Council/6–1048)