Foreign Relations of the United States, 1952–1954, Western European Security, Volume V, Part 1

740.5/4–754: Telegram

The Ambassador in France (Dillon) to the Department of State ¹

secret
priority

Paris, April 7, 1954—noon.

3758. 1. Achilles and Crawford met yesterday at Foreign Office discuss reply Soviet note with Margerie and Laloy (French) and Reilly and Rumbold (UK). Margerie presided and made detailed presentation French views substance of which in immediately following telegram.²

2. Achilles outlined Department’s thinking as contained Deptel 3460³ and our general interest in French views as encompassing number additional ideas not touched upon by Department.

3. British had little to offer. They commented reply should reaffirm Western position at Berlin as well as importance German question to European security and expressed hope note could be kept comparatively brief. Also observed Soviet note’s emphasis on H-bomb produced widespread reaction in England and suggested reply give due attention this subject.

4. Margerie showed slight preference for transmission reply after Geneva Conference⁴ convenes and solicited views our governments. He said French did not have strong feelings about this but such timing might preclude possibility Molotov raising this question at Geneva. Achilles and Reilly said they thought their governments would prefer see reply made before Geneva but would consult and advise.

5. Margerie emphasized at all events reply could hardly be finalized much before Geneva in view necessity taking account NATO’s views, consultation with Adenauer, and Easter holiday intervening.

6. Margerie said that while reply should make clear once for all that Soviet proposals do not offer basis for negotiation, effect on Western public opinion would be better if it did not conclude on flat negative. Margerie made alternative suggestions (see following telegram) that conclusions either pose embarrassing questions, which would be simpler procedure, or make counterproposals, or both, and asked our governments views.

7. As no working draft had been prepared, subgroup consisting Laloy, Rumbold and Crawford designated draw up initial draft reply for consideration working group later in week.

8. Three governments seem to be thinking along generally parallel lines although French had developed their thinking considerably further than others.

Dillon

1. Repeated to Moscow and London.
2. Telegram 3759, infra.
3. Same as telegram 5144 to London, Apr. 2, supra.
4. Documentation on the Geneva Conference on Korea and Indochina is in volume xvi .