276. Editorial Note

Secretary Dulles and Under Secretary Herter met with President Eisenhower at the White House on May 2. Among other items, Dulles mentioned that the subject of Algeria might arise at the North Atlantic Council Ministerial meeting to be held at Copenhagen May 5–7: “I said that it was possible, although I thought unlikely, that the French might demand an expression of NATO solidarity behind French policy in Algeria. The President thought that it would be quite impractical to give any such blank check. We wanted a French policy that would succeed and we could not be bound to endorse elements of a policy [Page 637] which seemed to be failing.” (Memorandum of conversation with the President; Department of State, Secretary’s Memoranda of Conversation: Lot 64 D 199)

Dulles discussed Algeria with British Foreign Secretary Lloyd at the British Embassy in Copenhagen May 4. “There was not much to say on this subject,” Dulles commented, “until the French formed a government. Bourguiba has been acting extremely well in keeping things calm. How long he could continue to do this we did not know, the Secretary said.”

“The Tangier Conference, the Secretary went on, had recommended that the FLN form a government and it would be difficult for Tunisia and Morocco to hold up recognition of the FLN as a government. The Secretary said that the Good Officers had done an extraordinary job and had at least given us a reprieve.” (USDel/MC/9; ibid.)