780.5/10–1851: Telegram
The Chargé in France (Bonsal) to the Department of State
niact
2272. Embtel 2248 Oct 171 rptd London 559, Ankara 39, Cairo 61. La Tournelle has just informed me that FonOff has instructed Bonnet to see Secretary and state Fr position along fol lines re MEC situation in repty to points made in Depcirtel 357, Oct 16:2
- (1)
- Fr are in full agreement as to need for continuance closest possible cooperation between four govts concerned in ME defense.
- (2)
- Fr believe it wld be most inopportune at present time and under present circumstances to approach Arab states with a request that they join MEC. Fr feel that in present state of public emotion govts of these countries wld not dare take a stand which wld represent lack of solidarity with Egypt if Egyptian situation quiets down, then matter can be reconsidered. The four govts concerned shld keep in close contact so as to determine earliest possible opportune moment for making approach to Arab States.
- (3)
- Amb Bonnet will reaffirm importance of complete solidarity and exchange of info between US, UK and Fr and will give indication as to undesirability of possible mediation by any one of these three govts in any dispute involving an Arab State and one of the other Western govts.
La Tournelle told me he had no info as to final position Brit Govt wld take in this matter.
I first asked La Tournelle whether FonOff had envisaged possibility of making a démarche to the Arab States indicating to them clearly our determination to continue activities and plans in connection with ME defense without perhaps raising issue of their joining MEC. He replied in negative stating that he thought our public statements and press reports wld be sufficient to make them realize that we wld continue our efforts. I then said that the object of the quadripartite approach which we had suggested had been precisely to counteract the effect in these Arab States of the wave of emotion flowing from Egypt and that we had thought that this type of approach might prevent a crystallization in a negative sense of their attitude. To this he replied that Fr Govt’s analysis of situation, based upon its info, was as he had stated.
Sent Dept niact 2272, rptd info London 569, Ankara 41, Cairo 63.
- Not printed; it reported on a conversation which Bonsal had with Roland Jacquin de Margerie, Assistant Director General for Political and Economic Affairs of the French Foreign Ministry, in which the latter “emphasized French support for immediate continuance efforts to establish MEC regardless Egyptian rejection” and the hope that the Foreign Ministry would complete preparation of a reply to British Foreign Secretary Morrison’s message to Foreign Secretary Schuman emphasizing determination to remain at Suez (780.5/10–1751).↩
- Ante, p. 227.↩