322. Telegram From the Department of State to the Mission at the United Nations1

970. Re Algeria. For Ambassador from Secretary. We have worked out with French in discussion here following general procedures for preparing for UNGA debate on Algerian question:

1.
Our two delegations in New York should privately and confidentially consider possible text of moderate resolution.
2.
French Government through its representatives in capitals of African States of French Community would sound out these governments as to their willingness to sponsor moderate resolution.
3.
In event of favorable response from some of these states to this suggestion, US would sound out some Latin American and Asian States in endeavor to assure additional sponsors.

Believe time has now come for discussions with French in New York on specific text of resolution as contemplated point one above. Suggest, therefore, you get together with French Del with view to working out text of resolution. Believe you should use for this purpose French draft resolution contained in Alphand letter to Bohlen (Oct. 16) [Page 712] copy of which given to you in Washington and USUN’s draft resolution of November 1.2

Re UN referendum, you should confirm to French, as we have done here, that we are prepared oppose proposal for UN referendum, but that other types of proposals which might be introduced would of course have to be studied before we could reach conclusion about them. We would expect consult with French on any such proposals.

You should, in agreement with French, bring UK Del into picture at appropriate stage.

Herter
  1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 751S.00/11–2360. Secret; Limit Distribution. Drafted by Cargo; cleared by White, Satterthwaite, Bohlen, and S/S; and initialed by Herter. Repeated to London and Paris.
  2. Neither Alphand’s letter nor the draft resolution has been found.