740.5/10–1050
Memorandum by the Secretary of State
Notes Growing Out of my Talk With Mr. Lovett1
I should make an appointment with General Marshall for tomorrow morning to go to the Pentagon to brief him on his talk with Moch. This should have special reference to the question of German participation. Mr. Lovett should be informed and should be there. Ambassador Bruce should go with me and possibly Mr. Perkins.
General Marshall has received a message, I believe from the Military Attaché in Paris, referring to his invitation to have a representative of Mr. Moch attend meetings with Mr. Lovett, beginning October 20. This message says that Mr. Moch declines to send anyone and will explain to General Marshall. It points out that the French Government was not supposed to have an answer on the German question until October 28 and therefore no deputy could discuss this matter. It goes on to say that Mr. Moch fails to see why deputies should discuss other questions since the standing group was supposed to begin its consideration of these questions on October 25. The message says Bruce has been informed about this.
I went over with Mr. Lovett our attitude with Mr. Moch on the question of German participation. He agrees that we should not withdraw from our position that we should keep the heat on the French; that if the French wish to turn down our proposal we should not try to think up another one, but should place upon them the burden of originating any new idea. We should insist that some solution of the German participation question is essential to the whole plan. It is quite possible in his view, indeed probable, that the solution cannot occur at the meeting on October 28, but steps should be taken so that we are on the road toward finding the solution.
- Recently appointed Deputy Secretary of Defense.↩