Memorandum of Conversation with Secretary of State Dean Acheson, Ambassador of France Henri Bonnet, Gabriel Van Laethem, and James C. H. Bonbright

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1851 s/s October 9, 1951 874 Moroccan Situation 291 The Secretary of State ARCHIVES "NATIONAL AMD RECORDS M. Bonnet SERVICE" Also present : Mr. Bonbright, EUR Mr. Van Laethem, French Embassy G - Mr. Matthews Also copies to following posts: C - Mr. Bohlen Paris, Syria, Lebanon, Egypt, UNA 0 Mr. Hickerson Tunis, Rabat, Casablanca, Saudi Arabia, s/a un Mr. Jessup Iraq, Jorgan, Tangiero NEA - Mr. McGhee AF - Mr. Bourgerie L - Mr. Meeker WE - Mr. Godley EUR M. Bonnet began by stating that he had received several messages from M. Schuman and was under instructions to discuss with us the North African situation with particular reference to the action of the Egyctian Government on October 6 in placing the subject on the agenda of the forthcoming General Assembly. He left with me the attached note setting forth the French position. The Ambassador began with a brief reference to the very strong feeling which existed in France on the Moroccan question and said that M. Schuman himself was surprised by the depth of this feeling which had been brought to a head by the Egyptian action. He referred to the Bourghiba episode and to the question of the exchange of communications between the French and American Governments suggested by M. Schuman in September. With regard to the UN matter, M. Bonnet said that the French Government had decided to fight the placing of this item on the agenda on the grounds that this was an internal matter under the UN Charter. He was instructed to emphasize the very great importance which the French Government attached to obtaining our full support. DECLASSIFIED E. O. 11652, Sec. 3(E) and S(D) or (T) Dapt. of State letter, Aug. 9, 1973 Ba NLT- . NARS Date i