315.3/11–1753: Telegram
The Chargé in France (Achilles) to the Department of State
1949. For the Secretary. I have urged greater French cooperation along lines indicated your 1847 upon both Margerie and Maurice Schumann. Both see great difficulty in changing previously adopted position of supporting ruling of administrative tribunal headed by French judge, but they both promised to give it further consideration from political point of view.
Schumann, whom Bidault has asked to try to work out solution satisfactory to us, said he had, last night, cabled Bonnet to discuss matter with you again along following lines:
[Page 370]If matter comes to vote, he believes we will be defeated. Accordingly, he suggests seeking to avoid a debate and trying to work out, in agreement with Hammarskjold, a procedure which would avoid, perhaps by simple consultation with the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary questions, any recourse to the Assembly. This would apparently involve payment of awards by Secretary General from funds already at his disposal. Should this suggestion appeal to us, French delegation would actively cooperate toward bringing it about.
In any event, we will continue to press French on both political and legal grounds.