287. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in France1
3251. Department concurs in view expressed Embtel 31952 that deGaulle’s fixation with Algeria and rage at US abstention in UNGA vote3 play major role in our problems with him. Alphand stressed this point to Acting Secretary (Deptel 3192)4 and linked French project withdraw their Mediterranean fleet from NATO with deGaulle’s anguish at attitude we have adopted towards FLN. [11/2 lines of source text not declassified]
We note Boegner’s statement re activities PAG representatives at UN.5 French informed us some months ago they had taken steps with UNSYG to deny access to UN to these representatives. Our information is that this has been totally ineffective and that Yazid and Chanderli extremely active in UN building especially noticeable during current Cameroun debate.
Department is currently studying problem presented by latest French request for no further contact with FLN and will keep you informed.
Re deGaulle’s skepticism on our ability legally keep these men out of country, we regret this attitude but see little that can be done about it. With regard French “study” of our visa laws, it is clear we would not accept any comments from French on our application of US laws.
- Source: Department of State, Central Files, 751S.00/3–459. Secret. Drafted by L. Dean Brown and McBride on March 5, cleared by Porter and in substance with Valenza and SCA, and approved and signed for Herter by McBride. Repeated to Algiers.↩
- Telegram 3195, March 4, suggested that alleged U.S. failure to support France in Algeria motivated De Gaulle’s approach to French-U.S. relations. (Ibid., 033.51S11/3–459)↩
- See Document 285.↩
- Dated March 3. (Department of State, Central Files, 770A.5451/3–359)↩
- Transmitted in telegram 3195 from Paris, cited in footnote 2 above.↩