Secretary’s Memoranda of Conversation, lot 64 D 199, “August 1954”

No. 655
Memorandum by the Special Assistant to the Secretary of State (Hanes) to the Assistant Secretary of State for European Affairs (Merchant)

The following subject was discussed during a conversation between the Secretary and Mr. Stassen on August 9, 1954:

France

Mr. Stassen pointed out that there were elements which would require a major financial and economic negotiation with the French some time in the fall. I said that at the moment I was anxious to create in France an awareness in high quarters of the extent to which they were dependent on the US. I thought this would be salutary from the standpoint of EDC.