309. Editorial Note
On April 21, the African Chiefs of Mission met at their request with Under Secretary Dillon. President De Gaulle was scheduled to arrive in Washington on a State visit the following day, and the Chiefs of Mission wished to discuss their concerns about Algeria and French nuclear testing in the Sahara. They gave Dillon a memorandum expressing their positions and requesting that the President use his good offices with the French “with a view to achieving a peaceful and speedy solution, based on the principle of genuine self-determination, to the Algerian conflict.” (Memorandum of conversation; Department of State, Secretary’s Memoranda of Conversation: Lot 64 D 199)
Presidents Eisenhower and De Gaulle met on April 22, 24, 25, and 26. During their first conversation, at which only he, De Gaulle, and the U.S. and French interpreters were present, Eisenhower led into a short but substantive discussion of Algeria by mentioning the African aide-mémoire. The President introduced the topic again on April 25, when it was considered briefly by the two Presidents and their parties. Memoranda of these conversations are scheduled for publication in volume VII.
De Gaulle left Washington on April 26 for New York, San Francisco, and New Orleans, and left the United States on April 29. On April 27, Eisenhower was asked at a press conference if he and President De Gaulle had discussed Algeria. The President confirmed that they had and noted that De Gaulle had confirmed the French policy of [Page 690] self-determination for Algeria. The transcript of the press conference is printed in American Foreign Policy: Current Documents, 1960, pages 515–516.
The text of Eisenhower’s statement was sent to Paris and several African missions. (Circular telegram 1341, April 27; Eisenhower Library, White House Office Files, Project “Clean Up”) On May 4, the Department of State informed many of the African missions that the “White House wishes assure all governments that made approaches wanting President to raise Algerian matter with De Gaulle are appropriately informed that subject was discussed with De Gaulle.” This was, the message continued, in response to the approach by the African Chiefs of Mission. (Telegram 490 to Monrovia; Department of State, Central Files, 751S.00/5–460)