12. Telegram From the Embassy in France to the Department of State1
2762. Margerie has shown us December 7 Reuter despatch from Washington saying Washington officials believe Eden visit2 marks approaching end of postwar big-three meetings, that German and Italian claims to be heard on world problems now rival those of [Page 19] France, that five power talks would be too big, and that hereafter U.S. will concentrate both on NATO political discussions and on bilateral talks. While despatch mentioned U.S. desire for visit from next French Prime Minister, leftist press, notably Express and Combat slur over this but feature balance of despatch as indicating eviction of French from big three.
Margerie states that Pinay fully realizes despatch is malicious Reuter distortion of U.S. thinking but that he is nevertheless seriously disturbed by use which Mendes as well as other opponents of government may make of it in electoral campaign. He would therefore be most grateful if Secretary would utilize occasion of his departure for Paris3 or earlier occasion to state that he was looking forward to discussing matters of common interest with Pinay and that he would be discussing with Pinay and Macmillan4 general international situation following Geneva5 and perhaps such other questions as Middle East.6
- Source: Department of State, Central Files, 611.51/12–855. Secret; Priority.↩
- Sir Anthony Eden visited Washington, January 30–February 1, 1956.↩
- Dulles was in Paris, December 14–18, to attend the meeting of the North Atlantic Council.↩
- Harold Macmillan also attended the North Atlantic Council meetings.↩
- Reference is to the meetings at Geneva of the Foreign Ministers of the United States, United Kingdom, France, and the Soviet Union, October 27–November 16, 1955; see volume V.↩
- For text of Dulles’ statement, December 13, see Department of State Bulletin, December 26, 1955, p. 1084.↩