Editorial Note
During his report on the Churchill-Eden visit, delivered to the National Security Council at its 205th meeting, July 1, Dulles was asked whether there had been any progress during the conversations with regard to a regional grouping for the defense of Southeast Asia against communism.
“Secretary Dulles replied that there had been progress, and that joint conversations on the subject would start this week. The British had initially proposed to reactivate the Five-Power staff conversations, but we had opposed this proposal. Thereafter, agreement had been reached to pursue this subject by means of a series of talks. The first of these, among the ANZUS powers, had already taken place. It would be followed by subsequent conversations with the Philippines, Thailand, etc. The position of the French in this situation was extremely difficult to understand since, in effect, the French had ‘gone underground.’ Mendes-France was plainly trying to pressure the United States to urge the Associated States to agree to whatever settlement the French made with the Communists in Indochina. We had refused to be party to this.” (Eisenhower Library, Eisenhower papers, Whitman file; memorandum by Gleason of 205th NSC meeting)