148. Memorandum From Secretary of State Herter to President Eisenhower0
SUBJECT
- Speech by General de Gaulle on French Strategy
General de Gaulle on November 3 addressed the French War College on the role France should play in the defense of the West. Although the speech was private, its contents leaked to the press and the French authorities have released the full text. A translation of the speech is attached, and will be of interest to you.1 It indicates General de Gaulle believes [Page 315] that France should no longer participate in an integrated system of Western defense, but should play its individual role, as it thinks best, and under its own commanders, at best “coupling its strategy” with others and “marching shoulder to shoulder” with its allies on the battle-field.
The speech suggests that General de Gaulle has failed to learn about or comprehend the nature of weaponry and warfare as it has developed since 1945. He rationalizes his hostility to the concept of integrated defense by contending that France has “recovered its national personality” which could not endure in an integrated system of defense, and that the Free World is no longer “faced with an imminent and limitless threat”.
General Valluy (CINCENT) is reported to have made the following statement in a press conference at Fontainebleau on November 23: “I believe that certain declarations recently made elsewhere than here on a French military policy of non-integration do not apply to the Headquarters Central Europe where we are normally and daily obliged to practice integration.” We have heard that General Valluy has been disturbed for some time about the course of French policy but this is the first instance he has spoken openly about it.
- Source: Eisenhower Library, Whitman File, Dulles-Herter Series. No classification marking. A handwritten notation on the source text indicates the President saw it.↩
- Not printed. A copy of this speech, attached to a copy of Herter’s memorandum, is in Department of State, Central Files, 751.11/12–159.↩