840.50 Recovery/3–148: Telegram
The Ambassador in the United Kingdom (Douglas) to the Secretary of State
urgent
787. For Lovett from Douglas. Relative persuading the French promptly to take steps aimed at merging French zone with the combined zone, suggest that I be authorized firmly but tactfully to point out to French that amount of aid, if any, under ERP for the French zone, may depend upon their willingness to merge, and that the administrator may require a commitment of this sort under any bi-lateral agreement that may be made between the French occupying authorities and the US Govt.
At the moment the French feel, I suspect, that they can rely with complete assurance on ERP aid for the French zone. As long as this attitude prevails, it may be somewhat difficult to hasten French acquiescence to merging.