600.0012/10–3051: Telegram
The Ambassador in France (Bruce) to the Secretary of State
2542. Dept distribution on authority Secretary’s Office only. Embtel 2470, Oct 27 rptd London 622.1 Bonsai accompanied by Ferguson and Meyers had discussion of armaments proposals today at FonOff with La Tournelle,2 Chauvel3 and Broustra.4 FonOff had made preliminary [Page 568] study of proposals and asked several questions. In general questions related to our plans for putting proposals forward in UN and extent to which proposals wld be included in a tripartite statement. It was clear FonOff had concentrated on the suggested criteria and they were assured that US was not committed to such criteria, although it was expected Secy State might refer to them as possibilities in his speech. It was explained that as we saw proposals they rounded out US position with respect to limitation, regulation and reduction and with respect to disclosure.
FonOff asked if we cld give them paper summarizing points discussed. We are planning to provide them tomorrow with memo (of which copy will be sent Wash)5 covering our answers to their questions as well as a copy of US working group report6 with numerical percentages deleted.
FonOff wished to discuss matter further later in week. Chauvel remarked that they wanted to study proposals further but that he felt Fr Govt wld want to go along. He specifically asked if we had had reaction from Brit and we told him no. Please advise us whether Brit have given any indication of their position.
Sent Dept 2542; rptd info London 638. (Eyes only Gifford and Holmes.)
- Telegram 2470 from Paris, October 27, reads as follows: “I [Ambassador Bruce] delivered text Deptel 2418 to Schuman yesterday and expressed orally views contained in Deptel 2417. He assured me proposals wld be given immediate consideration. I have also spoken with Brit Amb who last evening had not yet recd our text from Foreign Office.” (600.0012/10–2751)↩
- Guy Le Roy de La Tournelle, Director of Political Affairs, French Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Consultative Adviser, French Delegation to the General Assembly.↩
- Jean Chauvel, Permanent French Representative at the United Nations; Member of the French Delegation to the General Assembly.↩
- Vincent Broustra, Minister Plenipotentiary; Principal Adviser, French Delegation to the General Assembly.↩
- The memorandum was transmitted to Washington in despatch 1195, October 31, not printed (320/10–3151).↩
- The working group report is contained in NSC 112, July 6, p. 477.↩