Office of the Historian

EUR files, lot 59 D 233, “Letters—France, July-Dec. 1953”

No. 608
The Ambassador in France (Dillon) to the Assistant Secretary of State for European Affairs (Merchant)

confidential
official–informal
Paris, August 3, 1953.

Dear Livie: When I was talking with Mendes-France the other day at our daughter’s wedding, he mentioned that he planned to be in Washington for about two weeks beginning the first of September. He is going over for some meeting of the International Monetary Fund. He said he is looking forward very much to meeting some of the leaders of the new Administration.

While Mendes-France is associated with certain policies that do not agree with our own present objectives, he personally always professes to be very friendly to the United States, and both Harry Labouisse and I believe that this is his real feeling. In view of his importance politically and the possibility that he may become Prime Minister of France sometime in the not too distant future, I think it is very essential that he be well looked after while he is in Washington. I feel he should have the opportunity of meeting and talking with the top people, not only in the Treasury Department and the International Monetary Fund group, but also in the Department of State, including a good talk with the Secretary and the Under Secretary. I personally think that this is very important and hope that you will be able to make the necessary arrangements to give him a really good time while he is in Washington.

He also told me that he might possibly be accompanied on this trip by Edgar Faure. About the same recommendations apply to Faure if he should visit the United States, although I am not as certain of his personal good will toward the United States as I am in the case of Mendes-France.1

With best wishes,

Sincerely,

Douglas Dillon
  1. In a letter to Dillon of Aug. 7, Merchant noted that arrangements would be made for a luncheon with Mendès-France as well as a possible meeting between him and Secretary Dulles if it could be satisfactorily scheduled. (EUR files, lot 59 D 233, “Letters—France, July–Dec. 1953”) Subsequently arrangements were made for a luncheon at the Carlton Hotel on Sept. 8 with Assistant Secretary Merchant and Under Secretary Lourie and for a meeting with Secretary Dulles at 11 p.m. on Sept. 11. For a record of this Sept. 11 meeting, see Document 613.↩