851.00/10–2647: Telegram
The Ambassador in France (Caffery) to the Secretary of State
4598. Palewski told me last night that De Gaulle has no desire whatsoever to become President of the Council of Ministers until next spring and hopes he will not be forced to do so by Communist maneuvers in [Page 793] the meantime. I warned him that any steps on the General’s part headed for anything approaching a dictatorship or looking like they were approaching a dictatorship would be very badly received indeed in the United States and might put an end to our efforts to come to the relief of France. He professed to be in agreement. He declared that De Gaulle understands that it is extremely important for him to capture the goodwill of non-Communist labor, and that he will try to do so.
Palewski said also that when De Gaulle does come into power he will probably offer the Finance Ministry to either Eeynaud1 or Mendès-France;2 he will ask Ramadier to remain in the government and probably Robert Schuman also. A Cabinet position will probably be offered to Giacobbi3 and Pleven4 must be taken care of also. Bidault and Teitgen will not be offered jobs.
I told Palewski that a good many people were apprehensive lest De Gaulle put an end to the present French government’s efforts at democratic reform in North Africa. Palewski denied this vigorously. I said they were apprehensive also as to what his attitude to Indochina might be. Palewski alleged that De Gaulle is broadminded there too. I said they are apprehensive as to De Gaulle’s attitude to Germany and that he might cause us a lot of trouble. Again Palewski alleged De Gaulle desired only to cooperate with us there too.
I am not inferring that Palewski meant everything he said, but it is interesting to note that he said these things.