751.5 MSP/12–3152
No. 561
Memorandum by Lucius D. Battle
of the Office of the Secretary of State’s Special Assistant for
Mutual Security Affairs to the Secretary of
State1
At the 9:30 meeting on Monday,2 you asked if anything were going on with regard to possible increase of the level of aid to France for Fiscal Year 1953. I told you that nothing was happening and that I doubted that we would be able to get any decision to increase the aid prior to the end of this administration, particularly in the light of the absence of a French Government.
After you raised the question however, I talked to Mr. Perkins and Ed Martin. Mr. Perkins thought that Mr. Harriman was inclined to try to settle the matter before January 20. Since then I have talked to Jack Ohly on several occasions and he has talked to Mr. Harriman. Ohly reports that Mr. Harriman is now definitely of the opinion that this question should go over to the new administration. Mr. Draper has also indicated to Mr. Perkins that he shares this view. In the light of this and since I understand that there is something less than interest on the part of Mr. Lovett, I think there is no doubt but that this must go over to the next administration.