Foreign Relations of the United States, 1958–1960, Western Europe, Volume VII, Part 2

5. Telegram From the Embassy in France to the Department of State⁰

Paris, April 16, 1958, 4 p.m.

4747. Eyes only for the Secretary from Murphy. Good Offices.

At Pineau’s invitation Houghton, Young, Beeley and I saw him and Joxe at 11:30 am today. His reception was very friendly and after a brief reference to the Government’s resignation¹ he began by saying that he wanted to address himself to the Americans. There was opinion that the fall of the Gaillard government was provoked in large part by the President’s message.² He said that while he himself did not share that view nor did some other members of the government it was exploited by the chauvinistic element. Talking to the British he said in all frankness that since Suez France has been chafing under what might be called a philosophy of solitude, a notion of abandonment by its allies. This was relieved temporarily and in part by the effort President Eisenhower made during his visit to Paris for the NATO meeting last December.³ He spoke in complimentary terms of the efforts made by the United States and the United Kingdom in the Good Offices Mission stating that he felt that the operation was conducted with every regard for French sensitivities.

Pineau said that while the Gaillard government since its resignation last night will continue without political power, under established custom as distinguished from constitutional authority, decisions can be taken by the President of France. His immediate preoccupation he said is the situation of the French troops in Tunisia who have conducted themselves so well until now. He fears that the news of the fall of the French Government will exercise a depressing effect on the morale of the forces there. He asked Beeley and me whether we could transmit to Bourguiba an expression of hope that the situation could remain in its present state pending the formation of a new French Government and a further effort to find a solution of the current difficulties. GOF would order its forces in Tunisia to remain in barracks and observe discipline and the restraints now in effect. He would hope GOF would agree on a confidential basis to maintain status quo. This Beeley and I agreed to do on the basis that it represented a personal request of Mr. Pineau.

After an expression of appreciation of the valiant efforts of Pineau and Gaillard in the debate yesterday I inquired whether his reference to the President’s message might relate to the fact that it was not published and therefore as only its existence became known through leakage in the press whether this might not have created an unfortunate misunderstanding on the part of some members of the National Assembly. Pineau replied that the difficulty with the message lay in those portions of it which clearly related to Algeria thus transcending the Good Offices matter. Knowledge of these portions he asserted would have led to even sharper repercussions had they been widely known. It seemed to Ambassador Houghton and me that Pineau in focussing on the President’s message as an important reason for the Assembly action last night was seeking an easy rationale. It could be said that the President’s message undoubtedly had an important influence on the Government’s decision. If it had not taken the decision then the question would not have arisen in the Assembly at this time and the Government would not have fallen on the issue. That would have left the Government faced with the basic problem before the UNSC with all the unpleasant connotations of which we hope GOF is now fully aware.

As for the Good Offices they would he hoped rest in suspense pending formation of the new French Government. He used the expression “they would be in the frigidaire”. There was a discussion whether the Good Offices would “rest at the disposition of the governments”. Joxe thought this would be bad phraseology. Beeley said he was sure his government would wish to continue its efforts should they be required. I said that I presumed that my Government would also, but that naturally I had no indication from my Government as to its intentions.

Beeley and I informed Pineau that we plan to leave Paris for London April 17.⁴ In leaving Pineau’s office after repeated expressions of cordiality and mutual appreciation we informed the press that we had had a friendly conversation with Pineau and that in view of the circumstances the work of the Good Offices is suspended.

Houghton

0. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 751.00/4–1658. Secret; Niact; Presidential Handling; Limit Distribution.
1. Gaillard’s government was defeated on April 15 by the combined forces of Communists and Moderates who voted 321 to 255 against the Cabinet’s decision to accept the proposals of the good offices mission.
2. Reference is to Eisenhower’s April 10 letter to Gaillard in which he stressed the hope that a practical solution to the differences between France and Tunisia might be found and indicated U.S. concern. See vol. XIII, pp. 841–842.
3. Reference is to the Heads of Government Meeting in Paris, December 16–19, 1957; see Foreign Relations, 1955–1957, vol. IV, pp. 218 ff.
4. Murphy stopped in London for discussions with Lloyd before his return to Washington on April 20.