62. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in France1

1305. For Ambassador from Secretary. Please at your convenience and if you see no objection give following to Pinay from me.

“Dear Mr. Pinay: I continue to be deeply distressed at the action of the General Assembly with reference to the Algerian matter. I am even more distressed at the impression you perhaps have that the US Delegation did not adequately support you in this matter.

“As against a background of public opinion and Congressional opinion in this country with which you are familiar, we voted against inscription and made through Ambassador Lodge a strong statement on the subject. We also let it be known privately to other delegations what our position was and our hope that the General Assembly would support the General Committee. We do exert a certain influence and in this connection I was glad to observe that [Page 227] even more of the Latin American countries voted as we did on this Algerian issue than on the Cyprus issue.

“I believe that your Government’s reaction was dignified and understandable. As I said at my press conference yesterday, we must all work together so as to assure that this incident will in no way lose the voice of France from world discussions and debates. That would be too great a loss for the world.

“You can count on us to seek at the UN to do everything practical to try and repair the damage wrought.

“May I add that I believe that this type of action directed against France is intensified by Communist scheming, and that this whole aspect of the matter deserves most careful consideration. I hope we can talk about it when I am in Paris. I am glad that in the light of this development your Government also took the dignified action of postponing the trip to Moscow.

“I greatly enjoyed our talks together at New York and look forward to seeing you soon in Paris. Sincerely yours, John Foster Dulles

Dulles
  1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 320/10–555. Secret. Drafted by Dulles. When Dillon delivered the message on October 6, Pinay emphasized that he harbored no ill feelings against the United States or Ambassador Lodge. He hoped the General Assembly would reverse itself and decide it was not competent to handle the matter. (Telegram 1584 from Paris, October 6; Ibid., 320/10–655)