155. Memorandum of a Conversation, Washington, February 6, 19561
PARTICIPANTS
- M. Mayer
- Amb. de Murville
- Admiral Strauss
- Secretary Dulles
At dinner I sat between Mayer and the French Ambassador. There was a little desultory conversation about atomic weapons in the course of which Mayer said that he did not believe that France would ever give up for all time the right to have atomic weapons if others had them. The French Ambassador said he was fully in accord with this view.
The topic was resumed after dinner between Mayer, Admiral Strauss and myself. At that time Mayer made clear his strong belief that France would never give up atomic weapons and that if EURATOM had this as a condition, it would never be accepted by the [Page 407] French Parliament. I suggested that in connection with the UN Atomic Energy Agency there might be an agreement that “fourth countries” would not make atomic weapons for a period of time—say five years—during which an effort would be made to eliminate these weapons by agreement between the United States, the Soviet Union and the United Kingdom. I thought that France and others might well be willing during this period not to complicate the situation by introducing a new element. Mayer seemed to think that this would be acceptable.
- Source: Department of State, Conference Files: Lot 62 D 181, CF 653A. Secret. Drafted by Dulles. This conversation took place at the Anderson House.↩