137. Letter From President de Gaulle to President Johnson1
Dear Mr. President:
In three years our Atlantic Alliance will complete its first term. I am anxious to tell you that France appreciates the extent to which the solidarity of defense thus established between 15 free peoples of the West contributes to assuring their security and, especially what essential role the United States of America plays in this respect. Accordingly, France intends from now on to remain party to the Treaty signed at Washington on April 4, 1949. This means that except in the event of developments which might occur in the course of the next three years to change the fundamental factors of East-West relations, she will be in 1969 and thereafter determined even as today to fight at the side of her allies in case one of them will be the object of unprovoked aggression.
However, France considers the changes which have taken place or in process of occurring since 1949 in Europe, Asia, and elsewhere, as well as evolution of her own situation and her own forces no longer justify insofar as that concerns her the arrangements of a military nature adopted after the conclusion of the alliance, whether in common under the form of multilateral conventions or whether by special agreement between the French Government and the American Government.
It is for this reason that France proposes to recover the entire exercise of her sovereignty over her territory, presently impaired by the permanent presence of allied military elements or by constant utilization which is made of her air space, to terminate her participation in “integrated” commands and no longer to place her forces at the disposal of NATO. It goes without saying that for the application of these decisions she is ready to arrange with the governments and in particular with that of the United States, practical measures which concern them. In addition, she is disposed to have understandings with them as to military facilities to be mutually accorded in the case of a conflict in which she would be engaged at their sides and as to conditions of cooperation of her forces and theirs in the event of common action, especially in Germany.
On all these points, Dear Mr. President, my Government will therefore be in touch with yours. But in order to respond to the spirit of friendly candor which must inspire the relations between our two countries and, permit me to add between you and me, I have been desirous [Page 326] firstly to indicate personally to you for what reasons, for what purpose and within what limits France from her viewpoint believes the form of our alliance should be modified without altering its basis.
I beg you to accept, Dear Mr. President, the assurances of my highest consideration and the expression of my most cordial sentiments.2
- Source: Department of State, Central Files, DEF 4 NATO. No classification marking. The text of the letter was transmitted in telegram 5559 from Paris, March 7, received at 2:45 p.m. and passed to the White House at 2:59 p.m. (Ibid.) This letter is also printed in American Foreign Policy: Current Documents, 1966, pp. 317–318.↩
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On the evening of March 7, Ball delivered to Lucet the following brief response from the President:
↩“I have read with care your letter of March 7, 1966.
“I am immediately bringing your views to the attention of our other allies. Since the course you propose to take so seriously affects the security and well being of not only the French and American people but all the people of the NATO Alliance, I am asking for their comments.
“I would be less than frank if I did not inform you that your action raises grave questions regarding the whole relationship between the responsibilities and benefits of the Alliance.” (Department of State, Presidential Correspondence: Lot 67 D 272; also printed in American Foreign Policy: Current Documents, 1966, p. 318) Later that evening, President Johnson wrote to Prime Ministers Wilson and Moro and Chancellor Erhard enclosing copies of De Gaulle’s letter. (Department of State, Central Files, DEF 4 NATO)
- Printed from a copy that bears this typed signature.↩