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10 CONFIDENTIALA - 2 - A fortiori, they cannot veto international action outside their bloc, though they might be offered more opportunity to participate in such action. If the Communists are to be free to engage in political action in the West or in neutral states, they must open up their society to foreign political action. If they insist on outlawing the latter, we shall be more and more driven, at no matter what risk or cost, to outlawing the former. Clearly we could not expect Khrushchev to agree to these points at this time, but I believe it would be advantageous for you to lay bare the fundamentals of the problem as you see it and make it quite clear that we propose to deal in the future much more vigorously with thosefundamentals rather than inadequately and tardily with surface symptoms or local crises. II. DE GAULLE The Algerian question will doubtless arise. Despite the general sensitivity on this subject and the wisdom of the policy he is now pursuing, it is hoped that you may feel free to emphasize strongly that the present negotiations at Evian must not be allowed to break down. If they do, and the war is renewed, as it would be, Communist influence in the whole of North Africa would, I fear, increase rapidly. There would be a very real danger that not only Algeria but Morocco and Tunisia as well would end up under Communist control. Precisely because of de Gaulle's scornful and unhelpful attitude toward the UN, I suggest you might try to persuade him that, irresponsible and inconvenient as the United Nations may appear to be, it is perhaps the central point at which the great body of uncommitted Afro-Asian States can be influenced and where their ultimate commitment to either European civilization or to Communist political and economic forms is likely to be determined. I hope you will have occasion to express in some form your disappointment that France has declined to contribute to the Congo expenses, which puts her in the same category as the USSR and gives the latter's disapproval of the UN effort there some color of respectability. U.S. support, and influence on Taiwan for the admission of Outer Mongolia to head off a Russian veto of Mauritania appears to be of great importance to the French Africans (12 votes) and therefore to France. I suggest you record anxiety to help with this if the subject arises. AEStevenson :mr

Document source description

This file contains materials collected by the office of President John F. Kennedy's secretary, Evelyn Lincoln, concerning the Soviet Union. Materials in this file include newspaper articles, background papers on nuclear science and possible cooperative space exploration projects, a summary of a telephone conversation between President Kennedy and French President General Charles de Gaulle, an itinerary for President Kennedy's trip to Vienna, Austria, and copies of a joint statement issued by the President and Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev concerning nuclear weapons, disarmament, and Germany following discussions in Vienna. The majority of this file consists of telegrams and memoranda to President Kennedy from Cabinet members and advisors regarding suggested strategies for discussing subjects such as nuclear weapons, disarmament, Berlin, and Laos with Premier Khrushchev.

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    "ocrText": "10\nCONFIDENTIALA\n- 2 -\nA fortiori, they cannot veto international action outside\ntheir bloc, though they might be offered more opportunity to\nparticipate in such action. If the Communists are to be free to\nengage in political action in the West or in neutral states, they\nmust open up their society to foreign political action. If they\ninsist on outlawing the latter, we shall be more and more driven,\nat no matter what risk or cost, to outlawing the former.\nClearly we could not expect Khrushchev to agree to these\npoints at this time, but I believe it would be advantageous for\nyou to lay bare the fundamentals of the problem as you see it\nand make it quite clear that we propose to deal in the future\nmuch more vigorously with thosefundamentals rather than inadequately\nand tardily with surface symptoms or local crises.\nII. DE GAULLE\nThe Algerian question will doubtless arise. Despite the\ngeneral sensitivity on this subject and the wisdom of the policy\nhe is now pursuing, it is hoped that you may feel free to emphasize\nstrongly that the present negotiations at Evian must not be allowed\nto break down. If they do, and the war is renewed, as it would be,\nCommunist influence in the whole of North Africa would, I fear,\nincrease rapidly. There would be a very real danger that not only\nAlgeria but Morocco and Tunisia as well would end up under Communist\ncontrol.\nPrecisely because of de Gaulle's scornful and unhelpful\nattitude toward the UN, I suggest you might try to persuade him\nthat, irresponsible and inconvenient as the United Nations may\nappear to be, it is perhaps the central point at which the great\nbody of uncommitted Afro-Asian States can be influenced and where\ntheir ultimate commitment to either European civilization or to\nCommunist political and economic forms is likely to be determined.\nI hope you will have occasion to express in some form your\ndisappointment that France has declined to contribute to the Congo\nexpenses, which puts her in the same category as the USSR and\ngives the latter's disapproval of the UN effort there some color\nof respectability.\nU.S. support, and influence on Taiwan for the admission of\nOuter Mongolia to head off a Russian veto of Mauritania appears to\nbe of great importance to the French Africans (12 votes) and\ntherefore to France. I suggest you record anxiety to help with\nthis if the subject arises.\nAEStevenson :mr"
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