840.00/9–548: Telegram
The Ambassador in the United Kingdom (Douglas) to the Secretary of State
3979. FonOff is concerned not only about immediate situation in France but also and more gravely about long term effect of instability of Fr Govt on Western Union. Prolonged inability to form Fr Govt which Nat Assembly would support causes Brit to query how strong a union can be built with such a weak partner. Obviously as long as Govt crisis or acute threat of one dominates Fr situation little can be accomplished by five power bodies set up under Brussels Treaty. Most recent example is cancellation of Sept 1 meeting of five Defense Ministers.
One FonOff official characterized Fr Soc Party as moribund. Widely held view is that its action in overthrowing last two Govts and its original refusal to join second Schuman Govt has not been in best interests of Soc Party or of France.1
- On September 10 the French Socialist Party joined in forming a new government headed by Henri Queuille.↩