No. 583
Editorial Note
On January 13, 1953, French officials informed Ambassador Dunn of Prime Minister Mayer’s desire to visit Washington in the near future in order to discuss major problems with the new administration. Dunn reported, in telegram 3916 from Paris, January 13, that “all the cardinals of Europe want to make the pilgrimage to pay their respects to the new Pope” and he recommended that the new Secretary of State might wish to take the initiative in issuing an invitation to Mayer. (751.13/1–1353) Arrangements were [Page 1328] subsequently made for Mayer’s visit which was scheduled for the fourth week in March, following a visit to Washington by Anthony Eden and Richard A. Butler on March 4–7 and preceding Chancellor Adenauer’s talks in Washington during the second week in April. For documentation on the Eden–Butler talks, see Documents 375 ff.; for documentation on Adenauer’s visit, see volume VII, Part 1, pages 424 ff.
On March 25, Prime Minister Mayer and his advisers arrived in Washington and were greeted at National Airport by Vice President Richard M. Nixon; for the text of the statements of welcome that were exchanged upon Mayer’s arrival, see Department of State Bulletin, April 6, 1953, pages 492–493. Beginning with a meeting the following morning aboard the Williamsburg with President Eisenhower, talks were held between the United States and French officials for the next 3 days concluding with a meeting at the White House on the morning of March 28. Reports of all these meetings follow, excluding the talks with Jean Letourneau, French Minister for the Associated States, concerning Indochina on March 27 and 30; for documentation on these Indochina talks, see volume XIII, Part 1, pages 429 ff. A complete set of the minutes of these meetings is in file 611.51 and in Conference files, lot 59 D 95, CF 141. Copies of all the briefing papers drafted in preparation for these French talks are also in Conference files, lot 59 D 95, CF 141.
For the text of the final communiqué issued at the conclusion of the meetings on March 28, see Department of State Bulletin, April 6, 1953, pages 491–492.