87. Telegram From the Embassy in France to the Department of State 1
4033. Faure sent for me this noon. Pinay was present. Faure handed me aide-mémoire, of which quick translation given in immediately following telegram,2 concerning rapid convocation of working group to prepare for talks with Soviet Government, reiterating that he would obtain unconditional and undelayed approval by Senate but that in process he and Pinay had taken moral commitment to do everything possible to bring about early talks with Russians.
After reading it, I asked how soon he envisaged working group meeting. He replied as soon as possible. I asked how he envisaged [Page 135] German participation since Germans would undoubtedly insist upon it. He recognized that this problem would have to be dealt with and thought it could through consultation or otherwise, though he did not wish them to participate as equals, at least not initially. He thought group should initially be tripartite. I asked when he envisaged any approach being made to Russians and whether he thought this should depend upon progress of the working group. He said he thought it should be made as soon as possible since some French parliamentary and public opinion was still thinking of Mendes-France’s proposal for meeting in May but that timing, manner and substance of any approach to Russians would be matter for agreement among three governments in working group.
Faure emphasized that aide-mémoire would not be made public but that he wished British and ourselves to be informed in advance [and]3 that he would speak along these lines in Senate debate. He said Foreign Office was advising press only that he wished before opening of Senate debate to advise British and United States governments of spirit in which his government was asking Senate ratification and that this was why, in Pinay’s presence, he had received British Ambassador and myself.
Jebb saw him just before I did.