840.20/8–1549: Telegram
The Chargé in France (Bonbright) to the Secretary of State
3389. For the Secretary. This morning I saw Couve de Murville who had just returned from Strasbourg.1 He stressed fact that Schuman fully recognized validity of apprehensions expressed in your personal message (Deptel 2957 August 10) and was naturally anxious to avoid any action which would add to your difficulties with Congress. On the other hand Couve indicated that, as we knew, Schuman had formally committed himself before National Assembly to make some kind of declaration.
Schuman’s suggested formula is that Bonnet deliver you a note which would begin by quoting text of motion adopted by Council of Republic and ending with two paragraphs of which following is hasty translation (French text follows in mytel 3390):2
“In accordance with the mandate given it, the French Government has the honor to bring this text to the attention of the signatories of the treaty as representing the expression of the fundamental preoccupations of the French Government and of its responsible leaders.
The motion responds to the profound conviction that the functioning of the assistance clauses of the treaty cannot be efficaciously assured except by the rapid and adequate implementation of military assistance on the one hand and of article 9 on the other.”
It is intended that note should be addressed not only to our government but to all signatory governments. French feel that by so doing their note would merely be of an informative character and could not be regarded as an appeal directed solely to US.