751G.00/11–354
Memorandum of Conversation, by the Secretary of State
Memorandum of Conference with the President1
Participants:
- General Collins
- Colonel Goodpaster
- Secretary Dulles
The President read the letter of instructions.2 He commended it for its clarity and approved it. There was then discussion of the mission, and particularly relations with the French. General Collins spoke of the necessity of phasing down the French forces, perhaps more rapidly than the French contemplated. He said he understood the French planned to have at least 100,000 troops still there by January 1956. I noted that there would probably not be enough money both to maintain French forces of this magnitude for this period and at the same time develop indigenous forces.
The President suggested to Collins that if he felt that this question of a rapid phasing down of French forces was important, he should not deal with that matter directly with General Ely, but ask the State Department to deal with it at the political level in Washington or in Paris. I concurred in this procedure as preferable. I pointed out that this was a matter which would probably be discussed by the President and me with Mendes-France when he was here later this month.