Memorandum from Acting Secretary of State Joseph Grew to President Harry S. Truman

May 17, 1945 MEMORANDOM TO THE PRESIDENT Subject: Criticisa of U. 8. Aid to Fronce in French Left-iling Press. The President may wish to say something to Mr. Bidault about American assistance to France during and since the libere- tion. The Department has beon informed by the imbassy in Paris that a propaganda campaign, aimed against us and conducted by the illegal apparatus of the Communist Party, is gaining momentum in France. It is corried on principally by word of mouth in food lines and similar gatherings, but it is also supplemented by at tacks in the press. The general *line" is to criticise the conduct of our troopa and to refer to the alleged "failure" of our Govern- mont to help France to regain her prosperity. Hr. Bidault, who is a liberal datholic, would perhaps selcome comments which might be useful in meeting this campaign within France. There are several facts to which the President might wish to refer, if he thinks well of the suggestion: (1) Under the Lend-Lease Agreement, the United States is making available to France credits in the amount of $1,600,000,000 which are available for the reconstruction of harbors and railroad facilities, as woll as for certain forms of industrial reconstruction. These credits are available notwithstanding the termination of the war in Europe. It is not bolieved that the people of France have been adequately informed of this action by the American Government, nor is it believed that the French Government