Foreign Relations of the United States, 1952–1954, Western Europe and Canada, Volume VI, Part 2

751.5 MSP/10–1052: Telegram

No. 544
The Ambassador in France (Dunn) to the Department of State

secret
priority

Paris, October 10, 1952—6 p.m.

2212. I am very concerned over manner in which French Govt are dealing with our recent reply¹ to Pinay letter to us of August 8² on subject of financial assistance to France in the defense effort.

Regardless of what we may think of this tactic, Pinay Govt has received considerable support in Parliament and country for their resistance to supposed “interference” by US in French internal affairs. The veiled references to this resistance, coupled with strong and almost truculent attitude they have announced with regard to treatment of Tunisian question in UN has brought forth a wave of approval generally on the part of parliamentary and public opinion which has done more to strengthen position of Pinay Govt than anything else since it took over six months ago. The govt has turned into an asset for itself the growing resentment on part of Parliament and public derived from feeling that France was being pushed about in such matters of importance and sensitiveness to France as the Tunisian and Moroccan questions, the Saar, the method of constructing European Army, large number of air bases being built by US and US forces both in Morocco and Metropolitan France, even though latter are under NATO general plan.

As you know, there was an increasing wave of resentment being built up, largely for political purposes, against Schuman but which also involved the position of the whole Pinay Govt. By making it appear US has attempted to impose “inadmissible” conditions in connection with our defense aid, and their summary rejection of such alleged suggestions, they have brought forth a resounding approval of the assertion of France’s independence and refusal to submit to suggestions from any quarter. At the same time French Govt is making it clear that their firm adherence to Atlantic Pact and idea of Atlantic cooperation is not brought into question; that they are dedicated to such cooperation and determined to continue their firm adherence to it. Concurrently they are continuing their repressive measures against French Communist Party.

Our latest communication to Pinay is the stiffest which we have given the French since the beginning of post-war US aid. There is a line beyond which conditions which may be considered as encroaching upon national sovereignty become counter-productive.

I therefore suggest that we be authorized to proceed along the lines of following telegram Embtel 2213.³

Dunn

1. For text of the U.S. reply, see Document 542.
2. Pinay’s letter was transmitted to the Department of State in Document 535.
3. Infra.