Conference files, lot 60 D 627, CF 398
No. 676
Memorandum of Conversation, by the
Assistant Secretary of State for European Affairs (Merchant)
- Subject: Premier’s Speech Before the General Assembly
Participants:
- Premier Mendès-France
- Ambassador Bonnet
- The Secretary
- Livingston T. Merchant
In connection with his proposed speech before the General Assembly M. Mendès-France noted that he had made an appointment to see Raab in New York on Sunday with a view to securing his agreement to the Premier’s projected Austrian proposal.
[Page 1498]The Secretary then said with great firmness that he felt it of the greatest importance that Mendès-France should not raise in his speech the question of a moratorium on experiments. He said our study had convinced us of the unwisdom of such a proposal and that if it were made by Mendès-France it would be most embarrassing. He said we would unquestionably be asked if this had been discussed with us and we would be forced to say that it had been discussed with us and that we had disagreed.
M. Mendès-France said he would think it over overnight and that he was inclined to follow our advice. He had, however, summoned from Paris to meet him in New York tomorrow his top atomic specialist. If he says nothing to change Mendès-France’s present point of view then he will not refer to the matter in his speech. On the other hand, if he is convinced otherwise he will get in touch with us and he asked to whom he should speak in our UN Delegation. It was agreed that he should get in touch with Gerard Smith, Special Assistant to the Secretary on Atomic Energy, and the matter was so left.