890D.01/6–345: Telegram
The Ambassador in France (Caffery) to the Secretary of State
[Received 4:20 p.m.]
3269. The opening statement of de Gaulle’s press conference yesterday7 to effect that Syrian crisis is not an isolated Middle Eastern incident but an international crisis appears to be the key to what de Gaulle has in mind. There are of course obvious reasons for him to take this line. There is little doubt that de Gaulle feels that the Syrian crisis and the manner in which the Brit intervened has seriously damaged his prestige in France and abroad. This is reflected in the bitterly anti-Brit tone of his statements. The fact that he was placed in position of having to accept what he felt practically amounted to a Brit ultimatum has not only infuriated and humiliated him but has led him to try to find some way to save French face, gain support for the French position and embarrass the Brit.
His formula of suggesting a conference between the US, Britain, France and Soviet Russia to discuss all problems of the Middle East is obviously calculated not only to embarrass Britain in Egypt, Palestine and elsewhere but by inviting Russia to participate in such discussions he appears to be making a bid for Russian support to balance what he may feel to be an Anglo-Amer coalition on the Syrian affair. In view of Russia’s great interest in the Near East de Gaulle may feel that it will be difficult if not impossible for the Brit or the Americans to object to Russian participation in any conversations. (De Gaulle’s tactics are interesting in light of Pleven’s remarks my 3218, June 2.8)
That Soviet Russia is delighted to have her foot firmly in the Near Eastern door is apparent from the treatment of the de Gaulle proposal by Humanité9 this morning.
Sent Dept as 3269, rptd London 386, Moscow 109 and Beirut 33.