851.00/11–647: Telegram

The Ambassador in France ( Caffery ) to the Secretary of State

secret

4757. Discussing in strictest confidence the forthcoming Foreign Ministers’ meeting in London, Chauvel said to me last evening that while the French want very much to reach agreement with US on Germany, their position “for internal political reasons” is nonetheless very difficult. He described the “psychosis” of the French public as the result of having been invaded by Germany three times in seventy years and said that the Communists on one hand and De Gaulle on the other (my 4737 November 545) will almost certainly attack bitterly any French decision which even appears to give the slightest impression that the French Government has “sold out” to US.

With the foregoing in mind, Chauvel said he hoped (1) that at the very outset of the meeting either ourselves or the British would make abundantly clear to the Russians the problems on which we expect a decision to be reached at the meeting. Should the Soviets then engage in their usual evasive delaying tactics (as Chauvel believes they will) and the conference break down, it will then be clear to everyone including the French people exactly where the responsibility for the failure of the conference rests. (2) He also said that if the French subsequently go along with US and the British, such action would have to be presented to the French public in such a way that there can be no doubt whatsoever that France’s security requirements are in any way jeopardized.

Chauvel said in all statements, etc., the French would have to continue to harp on the theme of French security and the fact that the [Page 703] French Government is determined to insure it and will not sacrifice it just to reach an agreement.

Repeated to London for Ambassador Murphy as 829.

Caffery
  1. Ante, p. 699.