Memorandum of Conversation with Secretary of State Dean Acheson, Ambassador Henri Bonnet of France, Gabriel Van Laethem, Daniel Wainhouse, and William E. Knight

of 24 501 DEPARTMENT OF STATE 5480 Memorandum of Conversation 168 DATE: May 15, 1952 nor STCRET - SEGURIOY INFORNATION SUBJECT: Forthcoming talk with M. Schuman about North Africa. cak PARTICIPANTS: The Secretary Ambassador Bonnet, French Embassy. Mr. Van Laethem, French Embassy. Mr. Wainhouse, UNP. Mr. Knight, WE. COPIES TO: FUR - Mr. Perkins (2) G - Mr. Matthews EUR - Mr. Williamson S/A - Mr. Jessup WE - Mr. Byington U - Mr. Bruce WE - Mr. McBride s/p - Mr. Nitze NEA - Mr. Berry s/s UNA - Mr. Hickerson UNP - Mr. Wainhouse u. s. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 16-61120-1 Ambassador Bonnet called under instructions to prepare the way for a discussion on the subject of North Africa which Mr. Robert Schuman wishes to have with the Secretary later this month in Paris. Ambassador Bonnet started the conversation by saying that he had heard that Mr. Schuman was somewhat encouraged about the prospects of having the Contractual Relationships Agreement and the EDC Treaty signed in accordance with the current schedule calling for the "24th and 25th" of May. The Secretary agreed that these prospects had improved and mentioned the dates of the 24th and 26th. The French Ambassador then referred to Mr. Schuman's desire to talk with the Secretary in Paris not only about Tunisia but also about North Africa as a whole and said that he had been instructed to cover the subject in a preliminary fashion in order to facilitate the subsequent talks between the Ministers. Mr. Schuman believes that it is urgent to avoid misunderstandings between the U.S. and France as these are exploited by a minority of extremists in North Africa where they are doing their best to prevent the establishment of reform programs mutually agreed between the French and local populations. These misunderstandings also play into the hands of those extremists who are seeking to reopen consideration of the Tunisian question in the UN in the expectation that the U.S. will find itself in a more difficult position to frustrate their aaneuvers. ron SHORIT INPORMATION STATE DEAT. LTR. 5.5.t3 Project NLT f2-4 By NLT- IVC NARS, Dote 6-15-13