Office of the Historian

780.5/9–2951: Telegram

The Acting Secretary of State to the Embassy in France 1

top secret
Washington, September 29, 1951—3 p. m.

1890. Re Middle East Command (Deptel 1468 Sept 8 and subsequent).2

1. Since President’s message to Greece and Turkey were shown Schuman at Ottawa (Ottawa Secto 22 Sept 19 to Dept rptd Paris unn)3 there has been no direct contact with Fr re MEC, although UK has advised Fr associated itself with MEC invitations to Austral, NZ and So Afr (Deptel 1753, Sept 22).2

2. Deterioration sit Egypt and lack of Fr decision re MEC have caused US and UK proceed up to this point without Fr (except in Commonwealth approach). However, view multilateral character MEC and Fr agreement in principle to MEC we believe Fr shld be kept informed in gen of devels and given opportunity of associating itself with US, UK and possibly Turks in steps now in execution or under contemplation.

3. Pls take fol action vis-à-vis Fr:

(1)
inform FonOff in gen of steps which have been taken since Presidential messages;
(2)
invite Fr participation in approach to Egypt re no precipitate action (Deptels 1766, Sept 24; 1797, Sept 25; and 1856 Sept 28);4
(3)
inform Fr re Plan A and Plan B (Deptels 1852,5 Sept 28; 1889 Sept 296) and indicate that we shld be glad have their collaboration in formulation Plan B and its discussion with Turks.

4. Brit Emb Wash recommending FonOff instruct Brit Amb Paris take similar action and you shld concert with Brit colleague.

Webb
  1. Drafted by Stabler, cleared by NEA, EUR, GTI, WE, and signed for the Acting Secretary by G. Lewis Jones. Repeated to London, Ankara, and Cairo.↩
  2. Not printed.↩
  3. Not printed, but see summary of telegram 214 to Ankara in editorial note, p. 187. The complete text of telegram 214 is in vol. iii, pt. 1, p. 576.↩
  4. Not printed.↩
  5. None printed.↩
  6. Same as telegram 252 to Ankara, September 28, p. 191.↩
  7. Same as telegram 258 to Ankara, supra.↩