19. Telegram From the Embassy in France to the Department of State0
5850. Luxembourg for Butterworth. Pinay lunched with me today and we covered waterfront.
He said that inability of Pflimlin Government to act forcefully in Algerian solution, handicapped as it was by army’s withholding its support, convinced him that De Gaulle was only solution, though Pinay insisted he himself not Gaullist.
Pinay took unto self responsibilities of taking soundings with De Gaulle even before latter’s press interview of May 19 and suggested to De Gaulle that he go to Algeria and settle problem since he only person who could discipline army. Pinay also made it clear that later he brought Pflimlin Government and De Gaulle together and convinced Coty of necessity of summoning de Gaulle. This, according to Pinay, was done none too soon, for in his opinion France was less than one day away from civil war.
Pinay accepted Ministry of Finance only after assuring himself from De Gaulle that latter would abide by NATO and European commitments, particularly Franco-German rapprochement. With respect to [Page 29] NATO, Pinay states De Gaulle feels French military too remote from US planning and control, thus not assuming full responsibilities which are theirs as result France’s geographic situation, country with primary interests, etc. Pinay believes General can and will raise his criticism of NATO in private not public forum.
Pinay, Mollet and Pflimlin will act as restraining and guiding influence on De Gaulle and see to it he keeps on right path. For example, De Gaulle knows nothing about financial matters and consequently does not accord them due weight. Pinay fears this might lead De Gaulle to cancel out necessary economies by commitments in other fields. Pinay mentioned proposed Algerian policy very costly to France, but if it works Algeria should prosper and thus reduce costliness.
This afternoon Pinay proposing to De Gaulle his economic recommendations which will include tight credits, removal of subsidies and special privileges and drastic reduction expenses. Pinay favors no requests for foreign loans until France has put her financial house in order and made necessary economies. “She must learn to live with less (life in France is too easy, this is our curse)”.
If Pinay has his way, he would immediately abolish most of France’s 400 sub-prefectures with their useless functionaries. Decentralization, he believes, is what is required.
Pinay feels France is now passing through revolution, constitutional changes envisaged, etc. and if government acts quickly De Gaulle will receive support of people for pretty much what he wants. Everything must be done to assure his success, otherwise France will have popular front government, drag Spain and Italy into Communist orbit and Europe will be lost to Communism, according to Pinay.
Pinay believes Moroccan and Tunisian questions will settle themselves if Algerian solution works. He favors troop withdrawals from both as quickly as possible on grounds troops there serve no purpose.
In summary, Pinay believes de Gaulle’s return was necessary to avoid rapidly approaching civil war and every effort must be made to assure his success (allies will see that it is to their advantage to cooperate in this), that there is a 50–50 chance of success and that if De Gaulle fails France goes popular front and Europe becomes Communist.
- Source: Department of State, Central Files, 751.00/6–1158. Confidential. Repeated to London and Luxembourg.↩