Foreign Relations of the United States, 1948, Germany and Austria, Volume II

740.00119 EW/6–1848: Telegram

The Secretary of State to the Embassy in the United Kingdom

secret
us urgent

Washington, June 18, 1948—7 p. m.

2300. For Douglas from Wisner.

1. Statement to Strang and Massigli para 1 urtel 2696¹ rptd Berlin as 216 just right. Similar statement made to Brit and Fr here.

2. Concur para 2 urtel 2696.

3. Proposed statement to press urtel 2698² is satisfactory and if necessary will be used here.

4. Fr. stated here today that Bidault would be seriously embarrassed in chamber if he could not make statement that plants would be available June 21 upon report Tech Mission. Fr Emb Wash explaining to Paris that list 575 plants transmitted by you today, that we hope more will be available on twenty-first or soon thereafter, but that there might then be delay while report considered in this Govt. Re further statement by Bidault, we informed Fr Emb that we understood would be no communiqué and that if Fr found necessary they should raise subject again at London. We have in mind objections by Clay and Brit reported urtels 2606,³ 2611 June 12.⁴ Hope that in view transmittal list and statement urtel 2698 question will not be raised.

Sent London as 2300; Berlin as 1071. [Wisner.]

Marshall

1. Supra.
2. Not printed; it reported that Douglas, Strang, and Massigli had prepared a brief statement to the press regarding the current discussions on reparations. It was considered that such a statement might have to be made in view of the interest created by Bidault’s reference to the reparations negotiations during the French National Assembly debate over the London Conference recommendations. (740.00119 EW/6–1848)
3. Not printed; in it, Ambassador Douglas reported General Clay’s view that an official public statement on reparations would be unwise and would only add to the current confusion, uncertainty, and unfriendly reaction in Germany to the London Conference on Germany. Douglas also suggested that there be no official statement on reparations (740.00119 EW/6–1248).
4. Not printed; in it, Ambassador Douglas reported having been informed by Strang that several portions of an Associated Press despatch of June 10 on reparations were untrue. Strang further stated that no responsible British official had issued information regarding reparations, nor would any statement be issued to correct misinformation appearing in the press (740.00119 EW/6–1248).