740.00119 Council/5–2548: Telegram
The Ambassador in France (Caffery) to the Secretary of State
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2780. I talked very frankly to Bidault this evening regarding the French position on Germany and he was very conciliatory. He said “Far from wanting to break with you we want the success of the London Conference and we will go along with you, but don’t make it too hard for me. I’ll have to face the Assembly and given the attitude of the Communists, the Gaullists, and the Socialists, I don’t know how we will come out. Everyone will ask me if the Russians take aggressive action at Berlin, what will the Americans do. In the long run if war comes, the victory on your side is certain but what will happen to us in the meantime. We know that you will do your best but what can I say to my critics who do not want to see France overrun by the Russians?”1
Sent Department 2780; repeated London 430, Berlin 245.
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In telegram 2867, May 28, from Paris, not printed, Ambassador Caffery reported further on Bidault’s views:
↩“Bidault told me again this afternoon that ‘the London Conference must succeed.’ He said: ‘Of course my people at London must defend our interests the best they can.’ We discussed again the over-all Western European interest and he said: ‘Tell your government I am on your side and in the long run I am sure we will work something satisfactory out, but at the same time I must think about our public opinion here.’” (740.00119 Council/5–2848)