Ask the Scholar
Document scope · 1 page
Scholar
Ask about this object, its catalog metadata, its source description, or the page inventory.
For page-specific OCR and visual context, open one of the page chats.
Scholar Source Context
Document identity
localId
428080095
label
Meeting with Francois Mitterrand, President of France
core
doc
dtoType
document
citationUrl
pageCount
1
Source metadata
id
428080095
contentType
document
title
Meeting with Francois Mitterrand, President of France
citationUrl
collections
Records of the National Security Council (George H. W. Bush Administration)
Presidential Memcon Files
subjects
France
largeImageUrl
imageCount
1
hasImages
yes
source
import
hasTranscription
no
Source extras
naId
428080095
levelOfDescription
item
productionDates
day
13
logicalDate
1989-07-13
month
7
year
1989
recordType
description
ocrSource
nara-archive
Single page context
seq
1
pageIndex
0
type
document
mediaId
cc33c251d714027d
ocrText
SECRET
SECRET
THE WHITE HOUSE
6824
WASHINGTON
MEMORANDUM OF CONVERSATION
SUBJECT:
Meeting with Francois Mitterrand, President of
France (U)
PARTICIPANTS:
The President
Brent Scowcroft, Assistant to the President
for National Security Affairs (Notetaker)
Interpreter
Francois Mitterrand, President of France
Jacques Attali, Special Counselor to the
President (Notetaker)
Interpreter
DATE, TIME
July 13, 1989, 4:00 pm - 4:35 pm
AND PLACE:
Palais de L'Elysee, President Mitterrand's
Office
The President asked President Mitterrand whether they were meeting
in his working office. (U)
President Mitterrand said no that it was his ceremonial office. (U)
The President congratulated President Mitterrand on eloquent and
moving ceremony for the celebration of the 200th Anniversary of the
Rights of Man and asked whether the performers were actors. (U)
President Mitterrand answered that they were. He went on to say
that he holds feelings of respect and confidence for the President
that he started to feel before his election. He referred to the
warmth of feeling at Kennebunkport and said that he hoped the
President would feel absolutely at home. There are always minor
squabbles but friendship is secure. (d)
The President said that the old saying "there are no pancakes that
don't have two sides" was appropriate in this circumstance. (Z)
President Mitterrand remarked that they were lucky to have Attali
and Scowcroft to settle all. (2)
The President then made a few remarks about Poland and Hungary
saying that he feared that the two countries knew not to expect a
blank check and understood that they must help themselves. He said
SECRET
SECRET
DECLASSIFIED
Declassify on: OADR
PER E.O. 12958,
AS AMENDED
CM 8/21/2009
SECRET
SECRET
that he had found the Hungarian leaders extremely impressive, warm
and friendly. They are convinced that Gorbachev wants real change.
He noted that he is more worried about Poland where labor demands
will make it difficult to introduce reforms. The authority of the
regime and the power of the population must find a way to coexist if
reform is to succeed. He opined that a state crackdown would bring
chaos which would lead to intervention. The Poles cannot move away
from their alliances. The President remarked that Jaruzelski was
probably the best candidate since he had lived through difficult
times and was thus battered but experienced. Moreover, Jaruzelski
and Walesa know each other. He then asked President Mitterrand to
share his views of Gorbachev. ($)
President Mitterrand said that he thought Gorbachev more imperiled
than ever before and may have to assert his authority. Mitterrand
said that Gorbachev detested the Chinese course and feels threatened
by it. Moreover, he never has time to sleep and is under constant
pressure. He noted that Gorbachev had made a few critical remarks
about the U.S. not being helpful in Afghanistan saying that the
Soviet troop withdrawal had gone unanswered. President Mitterrand
said that his suggestion that the Soviets withdraw aid to Najibullah
went unanswered. Gorbachev also mentioned the President's remark
about withdrawing Soviet troops saying that he would not last one
week if he did such a thing. ($)
The President said that he could see Gorbachev's concern about his
remark and said that perhaps he should talk with him. (8)
President Mitterrand observed that Gorbachev was not concerned about
the President's diplomatic intervention in Eastern Europe. He
suggested that the President should meet with Gorbachev. (S)
The President asked whether it would be valuable to do so even
without an arms control agreement. (8)
President Mitterrand expressed the opinion that the important thing
was that the superpowers talk and exchange views. (8)
The President said that the problem was that there might be nothing
concrete to do. ($)
President Mitterrand answered that the two could simply meet as
Presidents who had not yet met. (S)
The President asked Mitterrand whether Gorbachev was worried that
the U.S. did not want perestroika to succeed. (s)
President Mitterrand said that he did not think SO but if he did
worry about that it would be a dangerous sign. (S)
The President noted that Gorbachev had said in New York that there
was an element in the U.S. that wanted perestroika to fail and that
it was a group that would never give up. (S)
SECRET
SECRET
SECRET
SECRET
President Mitterrand suggested that much needs to be cleared up.
Gorbachev established a personal relationship with Ronald Reagan and
desired one with President Bush. ($)
Turning to the Middle East, the President asked for President
Mitterand's views on the position of the Arab League. (2)
President Mitterrand admitted that he was pessimistic and feared
that there would soon be an offensive on East Beirut. He said that
Israel had not been helpful but if the great powers keep stressing
the importance of a unified Lebanon, Syria would not dare attack.
The French are seeking to keep the Iraqis out of Lebanon. (L)
The President asked about politics in Israel. (d)
President Mitterrand replied that the situation was bad. (Z)
The President agreed noting the pull from the right on Sharon. (&)
President Mitterrand then asked if the President was tired. (U)
The President responded that he was not because he was so
exhilarated by what he had seen. (U)
President Mitterrand said that it was very important not to push the
East European states to withdraw from the Warsaw Pact which might
have to exist to the end of the century for stability. Western
action, especially economic action, is fine but a break with
security commitments had been the problem for Imre Nagy. When he
declared Hungarian neutrality, Russian troops moved in. It is
simply too soon to talk about dissolving the Warsaw Pact. (8)
SECRET
SECRET