Secretary of State’s memoranda of conversations, lot 64 D 199
Memorandum of Conversation, by the Deputy Director of the Office of Western European Affairs (Tyler)
- Subject:
- Visit of French Ambassador
- Participants:
- The Secretary
- Ambassador Bonnet, French Ambassador
- Mr. William R. Tyler, WE
Ambassador Bonnet called on the Secretary at the latter’s request.
1. The Secretary told him that he hoped that the French Government would not deviate from its present policy of non-recognition of Communist China and that it would observe the moratorium during the forthcoming General Assembly session. He added that rumors had come to our ears of a possible change in the French position and that if these were true, we would consider it a serious matter.
The Ambassador unhesitatingly replied that no change was contemplated by the French Government. He had read the transcript of the conversation of Mendès-France with Chou En Lai and there had been no reference whatsoever to the subject. The Ambassador was convinced that there was no secret agreement or understanding between France and Communist China concerning recognition. Indeed, he said, there were no conversations going on between the two countries on any subject and France was maintaining the embargo on strategic materials.
[Here follows discussion of several other matters.]