122. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in France1
4202. For Ambassador. White House and Secretary are shocked at announcement by Pinay of our suggestions contained Deptel 41742 re time and place four-power meeting. As reftel indicated, this was highly confidential message. Pinay’s announcement is embarrassing for many obvious reasons including fact that there be tripartite agreement on July date, Soviets will believe we have deliberately and for ulterior reasons publicly announced it prior to suggesting it to them privately through diplomatic channels. You should impress on French that we just cannot handle these matters in such fashion and also let them know it has created deplorable reaction here. Furthermore since suggestions as to time and place were attributed to President, it has created difficult problem for White House in its press and public relations.
We have spoken to French and UK Ambassadors along above lines3 and told them line being used by White House which is as follows:
Begin text: The report from Paris reflects certain suggestions which are being considered as between the three inviting powers for submission to the Soviet Union. The three inviting powers have not reached any final decision as between themselves with respect to these matters. One of the possibilities being considered for proposal to the Soviet Union is a meeting at the time and place indicated by the report from Paris. End Text.
- Source: Department of State, Central Files, 396.1/5–2555. Secret; Priority; Limit Distribution. Drafted by MacArthur and cleared with Merchant. Repeated to London and Moscow.↩
- Same as Document 119.↩
- A memorandum of MacArthur’s conversation with Couve de Murville on May 25 is in Department of State, Conference Files: Lot 63 D 123, CF 458. No record of the conversation with Makins has been found in Department of State files.↩