307. Memorandum of Conversation0

SUBJECT

  • Guinea’s Request for Recognition

PARTICIPANTS

  • French Ambassador Hervé Alphand
  • M. Charles Lucet, Minister, French Embassy
  • M. Jacques Leprette, Counselor, French Embassy
  • Mr. Robert Murphy, Deputy Under Secretary
  • Mr. William Porter, AF/N
  • Mr. Matthew Looram, WE
[Page 672]

Following a conversation on another subject, Mr. Murphy informed the French Ambassador that he had just been advised that the White House had received a message from Sekou Touré requesting U.S. recognition of the independent Republic of Guinea.1 It appeared, Mr. Murphy stated, that similar messages had been sent to the British and other foreign governments. He questioned the Ambassador as to the present status of this matter.

M. Alphand stated that an agreement would first have to be negotiated and concluded between France and Guinea before the latter could be considered independent. He assured that this would not take long.

Mr. Murphy pointed out that this was a delicate matter, particularly in view of the possibility of recognition of Guinea in the near future by the Soviets and other governments. He, therefore, hoped that the French Government might regularize the situation promptly and requested that we be kept closely informed in this connection.

  1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 751T.02/10–458. Confidential. Drafted by Looram.
  2. Text of Touré’s message to President Eisenhower, dated October 2, is printed in Department of State Bulletin, December 15, 1958, p. 966.