159. Telegram From the Delegation at the Paris Working Group to the Department of State1
128. From Beam. In plenary and subcommittee,2 French while recognizing necessity pointing to Soviet domination East Europe as basic cause tension said discussion satellite problem at Geneva presented difficult political problem for them and hoped issue would not stand in way agreement on other problems; said key lay in coordinating policy toward satellites after Geneva; advocated adoption [Page 313] different policy towards each satellite but did not spell out idea; noted United States desired play major role in raising satellite issue but agreed all would back United States; hoped expansion East-West trade would play important part in breaking satellites from Soviet grip; asked for tripartite liberation policy.
British agreed Soviet control satellites basic cause tension but doubted whether Soviets would agree consider problem realistically at this time; put special emphasis (later strongly backed by French) on proposals for broader exchange of persons and ideas to set in motion forces of change; at same time, emphasized such offers should be in broadest terms since exchanges with bloc should never be allowed to overshadow normal exchanges with free world; said cultural, athletic exchanges more valuable to Soviets than to free world (French felt cultural exchanges particularly valuable to France); agreed post-Geneva satellite policy required closest coordination.
United States re-emphasized importance maintaining continuing pressure regarding Soviet control satellites since only Soviets can alleviate this source tension; noted important role each could play by emphasizing Soviet need to solve satellite problem before real reduction tension could be achieved in Europe; urged all three should document right discuss satellite problem based on Soviet treaty obligation to West as well as on importance deprivation freedom in East Europe as cause tension.
Subcommittee drafting separate papers on satellites, exchange of ideas and persons and East-West trade.
- Source: Department of State, Central Files, 396.1–GE/7–955. Secret.↩
- At the plenary meeting drafts on various subjects were discussed and referred to appropriate subcommittees. (Telegram 127 from Paris, July 9; ibid.) The subcommittee on a declaration of principles heard the British and French support such an idea while the United States opposed any separate or new declaration, saying that the U.N. Charter contained all the necessary guides to international behavior. (Telegram 126 from Paris, July 9; ibid.)↩