740.00119 Council/5–2548: Telegram
The Ambassador in the United Kingdom (Douglas) to the Secretary of State
2271. Delsec 1754. Massigli informed us today that the French Government had now decided to go ahead with the German program but as I understand it, before giving final agreement to putting into effect and timing of the various recommendations the French Government considers it necessary that these recommendations be discussed at a secret meeting of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Assembly and that approval of this new policy as regards Germany must be sought by means of a general debate along broad lines on the floor of the Assembly.
Such course of action would, of course, be exceedingly dangerous as it would mean public consideration of all of the issues, including the secret draft instructions to the Military Governors regarding the principles to underlie the occupation statute and the German constitution. On the latter case, this would mean public discussion outside Germany before the agreed recommendations had even been submitted to the Minister Presidents. Such procedure would create the impression that we are imposing a form of government on Germany rather [Page 281] than requiring the Germans themselves to take the initiative. The matter likewise involves public discussion of disarmament [apparent omission] as regards security measures without any consideration of these by the appropriate bodies in the US.
We understand that, of course, in the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Assembly there are Communist members who could make capital out of such discussion. I should appreciate your comments in general and in particular as to what effect this might have in the Senate.
Sent Department as 2271, repeated Paris 232 for the Ambassador Eyes Only.