10. Editorial Note
At the 366th meeting of the National Security Council on May 22, Director of Central Intelligence Allen Dulles discussed France during his briefing on significant world developments. That portion of the memorandum of discussion by S. Everett Gleason reads as follows:
“[4 paragraphs (35 lines of source text) not declassified]
“In the meantime, there had been no particular change in the attitude of the French Army and its leaders in Algeria. The military leaders there still insist that General de Gaulle be placed at the head of the Government in Paris. Secretary Dulles interrupted to point out that Alphand, the French Ambassador, had gotten back from France yesterday and had come in to see the Secretary. Alphand seemed to feel that much depended on the ability of the Pflimlin regime to amend the French [Page 16] Constitution in a manner which would provide greater stability in the future. If Pflimlin failed in this attempt, De Gaulle was likely to come to power. [2 lines of source text not declassified] Alphand thought that General de Gaulle was not anti-American, but he might well prove to be anti-European. Thus he would certainly not quit NATO, but it was quite possible that he would reverse the trend of recent French policy in favor of a greater European integration. Alphand was also very worried about the future conduct of the French troops in Tunisia, whom he feared would break out of their barracks and join with the forces in Algeria. He hoped that the United States would not do or say anything which would make such a contingency the more likely.” (Eisenhower Library, Whitman File, NSC Records)