751G.00/8–954: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Embassy in France1
priority
501. Eyes only Ambassador from Secretary. Am totally mystified by your 558.2 Have no recollection whatever of alleged offer, our notes of conversation do not reflect mention of subject, and it is incredible that I should have made offer since the law categorically forbids it as was indeed well known not only to me but to Bidault because it had been discussed at NATO meetings.
I recall that at the restricted NATO meeting on 23 April 1954 I made a statement on U.S. policy concerning use of atomic weapons, in the course of which among other things I said “Such weapons must now be treated as in fact having become conventional.” I am wondering whether what Bidault reported was not in fact what I had said at the restricted NATO Council meeting.3
See no objection to your showing statement confidentially to Schumann but we must not get maneuvered into a position where the President and I cannot respond to a Congressional request unless this is also approved by foreign governments.
Under the parliamentary system, both British and French Prime Ministers and Foreign Ministers are subjected to interrogations by Parliament and make answers to questions. What we propose here is our counterpart of that system. We naturally want to act with courtesy and consideration and avoid public controversy but we must not give others veto power over our relations with Congress and the public.