IO Files: US/A/C.1/1895

Memorandum of Conversations, by Mr. G. Hayden Raynor of the United States Delegation Advisory Staff

confidential

Participants: Mr. Vincent Broustra, French Delegation
Mr. C. C. Parrott, United Kingdom Delegation
Mr. G. Hayden Raynor, United States Delegation

As a result of several conversations with the individuals listed above and with other members of their two delegations, I am inclining to [Page 340] the opinion that both the British and the French are reconciled to the Assembly’s adopting something along the line of our proposals. I think as a matter of tactics they will now concentrate their efforts on attempting to water down our proposals but that they will go along with whatever we succeed in selling to other delegations provided it is not too strong from their point of view.

In separate conversations last night with Broustra and with Parrott, I spoke with great earnestness of the great importance of Mr. Schuman and Mr. Bevin in their speeches in the general debate endorsing our proposals to the fullest extent they feel is possible. I said in both cases that silence or obvious lukewarm endorsement would have as bad an effect here as negative statements. They both agreed to stress this point of view in their delegations and my impression was reaffirmed that both of their Ministers will probably endorse our proposals, at least in principle.