46. Memorandum of a Conversation, Department of State, Washington, May 21, 19571
SUBJECT
- French Government Crisis
PARTICIPANTS
- Foreign Minister Pineau
- Ambassador Alphand
- The Secretary
- Mr. Dillon
- Mr. Elbrick
- Mr. Vimont, Minister, French Embassy
- Mr. de Laboulaye, Counselor, French Embassy
- Mr. Walmsley
During his call at the Department today Pineau2 was asked by the Secretary what result could be expected from the vote of confidence to take place this evening in the Assembly in Paris.3 Pineau said that there was some hope that the Government would survive, particularly in view of the fact that its budgetary plans now called for a diminution of the budget by 400 billion francs. He said that this was the first time that such a reduction had occurred and should be a favorable factor. The Secretary remarked that it was feared that any change of government at this time in France might have an adverse effect on the prospects for ratification of the Common Market and EURATOM Treaties. Pineau agreed. He said that it should be possible to ratify the treaties before the summer recess of Parliament if the Government remains in power.4
- Source: Department of State, Secretary’s Memoranda of Conversation: Lot 64 D 199. Secret. Drafted by Elbrick.↩
- Pineau arrived in New York on May 19 and attended a meeting of the U.N. Security Council on May 20. Regarding his conversation on the Suez Canal question with Secretary Dulles, May 21, see vol. XVII, p. 624.↩
- The Mollet government was defeated in the National Assembly on a bill to increase taxation on May 21 and resigned. Three weeks later, on June 11, Bourgès-Maunoury succeeded in forming a Cabinet in which Pineau was Foreign Minister. Reports on this Ministerial crisis are in Department of State, Central File 751.00.↩
- The bill authorizing President Coty to sign the treaties passed in the National Assembly on July 9 and in the Council of the Republic on July 24.↩