Memorandum, State Department Summary of Telegrams

NLT (Maual Aidc) 356 OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF STATE DECLASSIFIED WASHINGTON E.O. 12065, Sec. 3-402 State Dept. Guidelines, March 6, 1982 May 22,1952 By DED NLT, Date 7-26-85 TOP SECRET SECURITY INFORMATION SUMMARY OF TELEGRAMS NORTH Ambassador Dunn has expressed his gratification that AFRICA the Secretary intends to talk with the French Foreign Minister, M. Schuman about North Africa. Dunn says that we cannot expect this talk to produce either dramatic developments or prospects for the settlement of this problem on which public opinion in the US and in France diverges so basically. North Africa is a problem out- side the Foreign Minister's competence and major decisions can only emerge from Cabinet action. Moreover, public opinion in France is deeply agitated over the matter, and the French claim that the US is approaching it in a "political rather than a juridical way'' is a con- tributing factor in their discontent. Dunn feels therefore that the talks between the Secretary and Schuman should be in a highly restricted session, preferably just the two men alone. Dunn believes that despite the present difficulties on both sides the ingredients of a settlement exist: France wants and needs from the US our complete support for her policy in North Africa and dissipation in the minds of the North African peoples of the idea that their salvation lies in Franco-American differences. We in turn need from France a proclamation of a tan- gible reform program for North Africa liberal enough to satisfy US public opinion and to convince responsible statesmen in the Arab-Asian bloc (even though they will not admit it publicly) that it is to their interests to cease provoking trouble in the UN in order to get France out of North Africa. Dunn says that we must not fool ourselves into thinking that even such a reform proclamation is in itself a panacea. The best we could hope would be to convince the Arabs that their best interests lie in acquiescence until the next round, and that we might in this way be able to gain a year. Dunn says that Prime Minister Pinay is enjoying a real if temporary popularity in France and since he and his entourage ap- pear to hold a conservative view on the North African question which is fully supported by the public, he may not be willing to compromise his popularity. Dunn says, however, that President Auriol is most interested in the North African situation and, if the Secretary should make progress with Schuman, it might be advisable for him to talk to Auriol also, since Auriol has considerable influence with Pinay and the Cabinet as a whole. TOP SECRET SECURITY INFORMATION