Eisenhower Library, Dulles papers, “Telephone Conversations”
Memorandum of Telephone Conversation Between the Secretary of State and the Counselor (MacArthur)1
The Sec. asked where are we on reply to Dillon’s long cable re French conversations, Marines, etc.2 M. said we sent a stop-gap cable yesterday saying we need more NSC consideration re the Marines.3 The Sec. said that would take a long time, and M. agreed, but said we can’t act until fundamental issues involved are considered there. Bowie and he are working on a paper which tries to lay these things out, and they may have it ready to show the Sec. tomorrow. The Sec. thinks it is an academic exercise we are going through in the sense it is not going to come to a positive result other than as it affects those who are in Geneva. We don’t want to wreck the talks there—just say it is discussable. M. said nothing can be done until those who went out the other way get back, as the French will be pretty well stymied. M. said George Anderson called and said Gen. V——? [Valluy] was in and was upset about the 5-power talks. Radford said no decision has been reached, and it would be discussed with the French when it is in more concrete form. V. said we have to wait for Ely to return. It should be on a high level—Anderson said we can match stars with anyone and get an appropriate guy. What they want, said M., is a commitment of ground forces, and not what we offered. Dillon knows we can’t say anything until early next week at least. The Sec. said we must not lose sight of what we are doing—in what we can get benefit out of. We are trying to create in the minds of the French and those in Geneva that serious talks are going on. Let us not dispel that. The details of a plan of battle can’t be discussed until trip is over. The Sec.’s idea is to get word to Dillon that some elements were discussable but as part of program that could be expected to succeed. It is a question of time—what is sufficient now won’t be 2–3 months from now. M. will work on something for the Sec. to see in the a.m. The Sec. said Dillon’s reply re independence was not helpful.4 It is an essay—they agreed on that. The Sec. wants a precise formula from Dillon. M. will so advise him.
- Drafted by Phyllis D. Bernau of the office of the Secretary of State.↩
- Reference is to telegram 4416 from Paris, May 17, which is discussed in footnote 2, p. 1580. For the reply to telegram 4416, see telegram 4194 to Paris, May 21, Infra.↩
- Reference is to telegram 4152 to Paris, May 19; for text, see footnote 2, p. 1580.↩
- See telegram 4402 from Paris, May 17, p. 1574.↩