Editorial Note
On March 4 the French Foreign Minister, Georges Bidault, handed to Ambassador Caffery a message for Secretary of State Marshall. It referred to recent developments in central and Eastern Europe; pointed out the necessity to avoid repetition in Austria, Italy, or elsewhere of the events that had just taken place in Prague; noted the beneficial results already achieved through American efforts for the economic reconstruction of Europe; and stated that the time had come to apply similar efforts in the political and military fields as well. Mr. Bidault, who asked the Secretary of State to bring his message to the attention of President Truman, ended by proposing that the Governments of France, the United States, and the United Kingdom enter promptly into political consultations. (Telegram 1158 from Paris, March 4, FW 840.20/3–448) On March 6 the Secretary instructed Caffery to inform Bidault that the message was receiving the President’s closest attention. (Telegram 719 to Paris, not printed)