851.001/8–1145: Telegram
The Ambassador in France (Caffery) to the Secretary of State
Paris, August 11,
1945—5 p.m.
[Received August 11—12:13 p.m.]
[Received August 11—12:13 p.m.]
4875. Reurtel No. 3793, August 10, 1945. De Gaulle is out of town for the week-end. Bidault who will accompany him to Washington says, of course, he will be glad to be in Washington on the 23rd. I asked Bidault what matters they would want to discuss at Washington. He replied:
- 1.
- The Pacific in general and Indochina in particular.
- 2.
- Germany in general and the Ruhr and Rhineland in particular. He remarked again that the French are very fearful of a central German Government because they believe Russia would use that Govt to Sovietize eventually all Germany “and reach our frontiers.”
- 3.
- The treaty with Italy.
- 4.
- French interests in the Balkans.
- 5.
- Reparations.
- 6.
- Acquisition of supplies for France particularly coal and foodstuff for the coming winter; and for reconstruction.
- 7.
- Most important of all he said: “Our desire to wipe the slate clean of the past, start afresh and work with the US as closely as we possibly can in the international field. We have made plenty of mistakes in past and we think you have made some, but we ardently hope to stick very close to you in the future.”
I shall telegraph at an early date regarding matters which we might appropriately raise with General de Gaulle at Washington.
Caffery