Eisenhower Library, Dulles papers, “Telephone Conversations”
Memorandum of Telephone Conversation Between the Secretary of State and the French Ambassador (Bonnet)1
The Secretary telephoned Amb. Bonnet (who was at Warrenton, Va.) and told him that he was planning to issue a statement this afternoon about Laos.2 The Secretary read the proposed statement to Amb. Bonnet, who commented that it was very good and he thought it would bring a little encouragement to Laos.
The Secretary told him that he hoped his Government would reconsider their position on the U.N. He said that he had had a meeting with several Congressional leaders this morning and they had asked why Laos did not report the matter to the U.N. and the only answer he could give them was that the French were afraid it would provoke a debate on colonialism. He said that the Congressmen were suspicious that there was something wrong there if the French were that afraid.
The Ambassador said that they feel all that they would get from the U.N. anyway is moral help. He said that they were still studying the question, however, and that there would probably be a statement in a few days.