840.50 Recovery/4–1348: Telegram
The Ambassador in France (Caffery) to the Secretary of State
1944. Rece 59. 1. Berthoud and Marjolin1 have raised with us question of desirability CEEC maintaining representative in Washington. Our preliminary view is that it is probably undesirable, at least until it is clearly established that the normal contact between organization and United States Government is through the special representative. Otherwise effectiveness of latter may be seriously prejudiced, and tendency of countries to concentrate top personnel in Washington rather than at headquarters of organization encouraged.
2. In this connection, we should appreciate as detailed information as possible on current views as to (a) relationship between ECA country missions and special representative, (b) approximate date special representative is expected to take up his functions, and (c) arrangements to be made in interim. With respect to the first point, we feel, as indicated in previous telegrams, that emphasis United States puts on the multilateral rather than the bilateral approach will to large extent determine the success of the new organization. This may imply a re-examination of the role and composition of the ECA country missions and perhaps further concentration of authority and responsibility for ERP in Europe in the staff of the special representative rather than in the ECA country missions.
3. On points (b) and (c), we feel it important that the United States interest in the organization should not appear to decline immediately the organization is established. The creation of adequate working relationships between organization and special representative will be greatly facilitated if special representative or one or two officers on [Page 421] his staff are available for consultation and advice from the beginning of organization’s work. If organization functions for some time before any arrangements for relationship with United States representatives are established, basic decisions may well be taken on the basis of inadequate information United States views. Furthermore, momentum of present working relationships will be lost and new relationships will have to be built up from scratch.
4. According to present plan, Foreign Ministers will establish organization on morning of April 16. Executive committee and officers will be elected at meeting that afternoon and first session new organization will be called for April 26. One of first tasks of organization will be to consider how programming work of organization should be handled. It clear that in formulating its plan of work, in this field in particular, it is desirable that new organization should work very closely with United States representatives.
- Co-Chairmen of the CEEC Working Party.↩