Foreign Relations of the United States, 1958–1960, Western Europe, Volume VII, Part 2

43. Memorandum of Conversation⁰

August 21, 1958.

SUBJECT

• The President’s Talk With French Foreign Minister, Couve de Murville

PARTICIPANTS

• The President
• M. Couve de Murville, French Foreign Minister
• M. Herve Alphand, French Ambassador
• Mr. Christian A. Herter, the Acting Secretary
• Mr. C. Burke Elbrick, Assistant Secretary, EUR

After an exchange of amenities, there was a brief discussion of developments in the Special General Assembly in New York. The President felt that the Arab resolution¹ which had just been introduced was generally satisfactory and Couve de Murville agreed. Couve de Murville observed that the resolution renewed the pledge of the Arab League against interference in the internal affairs of member states. In response to the President’s expression of optimism with respect to developments in the Middle East, Couve said that he felt the situation in Lebanon and Jordan was better. It was essential that we have time to work out a solution. He thought that the Special General Assembly should complete its work by tomorrow.

The French Foreign Minister said that General DeGaulle had arrived in Madagascar to begin his African tour which will take ten days.² The President spoke of the desirability of cooperation among the less developed countries of the area, mentioning, particularly, the possibility of improving the economic situation of those countries with modern techniques in agricultural production. Couve de Murville said that most of these countries are very primitive and that the populations need a certain amount of education before they will be able to adopt such modern techniques.

The President asked if there was any hope of progress in connection with the Algerian problem. Couve de Murville said it was difficult to say. There is a great psychological problem to be solved in this area, as between the Moslem and French populations, and the French Government is making every effort to convince the people of Algeria that they should participate in the forthcoming referendum. The people could, of course, vote against the constitution if they so desire, but the important thing is that they vote. The matter of the future status of Algeria could be discussed afterwards between the French Government and the Algerians. In response to the President’s question, the Foreign Minister said that no authoritative group had yet been found with which the French Government could deal. The President expressed his fears regarding developments in North Africa and said that a solution of the problem of Algeria is indispensable. He was confident that General DeGaulle could accomplish this, if anyone could. He said that we would be presented with a very difficult situation in the forthcoming General Assembly if no real progress had been made meanwhile. Couve de Murville agreed.

The President said that he would like the Foreign Minister to convey his special greetings to General DeGaulle. The President was particularly anxious for the General to make a success of his present efforts; he said that France is in great need of the stability which DeGaulle desires to bring about.

Couve de Murville referred to the question of the suspension of nuclear tests (he was informed that the American Government’s statement on this subject would be released at 2 p.m. tomorrow)³ and reminded the President that the French Government does not agree with the action contemplated in the statement, in that it is not prepared to announce the same kind of undertaking on its part. The President said that we feel that some action on our part is necessary because the United States is now being made to appear in the eyes of the world as a “warmonger”. Couve de Murville remarked that the United States has done all that it really needs to do in this field, but the French must carry out testing in order to produce weapons in the future. The President said that scientists in this country have said that we are on the threshold of great developments in the peaceful uses of atomic energy and the production of power. They feel that revolutionary advances in this field can be made through testing and they do not like the idea of a test suspension for this reason. He felt that the Geneva results were very promising, but he assumed that Soviet scientists are not uninfluenced by Soviet politicians; while scientists could agree on a testing method the Government could refuse to implement the agreement. By our statement on suspension of testing we will offer the Soviets an opportunity now to “deliver”. If they do not respond we shall have to resume tests.

Couve de Murville said that tests are only a consequence of production and that the next step is to cease production. The President felt that if agreement is reached to establish teams to supervise testing, this would lead naturally to another step in disarmament.

Returning to the question of possible resumption of testing in the United States, the President said that this would be entirely contingent on such progress as we might make with the Soviet Union. If we cannot reach an agreement we will be obliged to go as fast as we can in developing weapons. The President believed that Soviet self-interest would dictate reaching some kind of agreement, since the Soviet Government cannot continue its very expensive arms program and at the same time satisfy the people of Russia and the satellite countries.

The President thanked Couve de Murville for calling upon him and reiterated his request that Couve convey his best wishes to General DeGaulle.

0. Source: Eisenhower Library, Whitman File, International File. Drafted by Elbrick. Also published in part in Declassified Documents, 1982, 910.
1. Reference is to the resolution presented by 10 Arab nations and adopted unanimously by the Assembly on August 21 which requested the Secretary-General to make practical arrangements to facilitate early withdrawal of foreign troops from Lebanon and Jordan.
2. From August 22 to 27, de Gaulle toured the French colonial territories in Africa to explain the provisions of his proposed constitution to the local population, especially those relating to the future status of the overseas territories.
3. For text of Eisenhower’s August 22 statement on the conclusion of the Geneva meeting of experts, see Department of State Bulletin, September 8, 1958, pp. 378–379. The President announced his willingness to negotiate a nuclear test ban.