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

Secretary’s Letters, lot 56 D 459, “Memoranda for President—1953”

No. 566
Prime Minister Mayer to President Eisenhower¹

Paris, February 3, 1953.

Mr. President: I was very grateful for the message of friendship which you were kind enough to transmit to me as well as to the members of my Government through Mr. Dulles and Mr. Stassen.²

You have retained a fond memory, you say, of your relations with my compatriots and with the French authorities. In fact, Mr. President, you have twice deserved their gratitude. Today their confidence is extended not only to the Chief of the Armies of liberation but to the organizer of the defenses of Europe. It is a homage rendered to your boldness and also to your wisdom.

The French Government intends also to show that it is resolute and reasonable. It has undertaken to pursue on its own account the European policy of its predecessors. It intends to lead it to a satisfactory conclusion: but it is a question as you know, Mr. President, of an ambitious enterprise whose lasting success depends in the last analysis on the wholehearted support of the peoples.

During their brief stay in Paris Mr. Dulles and Mr. Stassen have informed me of your preoccupations in this field. They are also mine and those of my Government.

They have furthermore become aware of the difficulties of our task. It is our responsibility to settle these difficulties alone and we shall not fail to do so. But there are other difficulties whose solution requires the active support of our principal partners in the Atlantic Community. I am convinced that both the former and the latter will be overcome and that when, in answer to your kind invitation for which I thank you very warmly, I proceed to Washington with Mr. Bidault,³ we will be able to appreciate together, and with satisfaction, the progress made.

Please accept [etc.]

Mayer

1. Following his visit to Paris, Feb. 1–3, Dulles received a letter from Mayer for delivery to President Eisenhower. Dulles forwarded Mayer’s letter to the President along with a covering note dated Feb. 13 and the source text, which he called a “free translation.”
2. This is a reference to a letter from President Eisenhower which Dulles carried along with him on his visit to Paris. This letter briefly explained the purpose of Dulles’ trip to Western Europe and brought the President’s greetings. (Conference files, lot 59 D 95, CF 137) Regarding Dulles’ visit to Paris, see the editorial note, supra.
3. For documentation concerning Mayer’s visit to Washington, Mar. 26–28, see Documents 583 ff.