Memorandum, State Department Summary of Telegrams

OFFICE OF THE SECRETÁRY OF STATE DECLASSIFIED WASHINGTON Dept. E.O. Guidelines, March 6, 1982 12065, Sec. 3-402 January 17, 1952 State By DEB NLT, Date 4-9-81 SECRET SECURITY INFORMATION SUMMARY OF TELEGRAMS FRANCE Our Ambassador in Paris reports that former Prime Minister Pleven thinks there is a fifty-fifty chance that Edgar Faure of the Radical party can succeed in forming a cabinet. As former Budget Minister Faure is well qualified to tackle the immediate problems which brought the downfall of the Pleven Government, namely, the reorganization of the railways and the social security system. Pleven does not wish and has not promised to take any portfolio in any Govern- ment which may be formed. He believes he can better use his influence toward achievement of a European army and political federation goals as a Deputy in the National Assembly than if bound by coalition obligations as a member of a Government. Pleven thinks that the European Army plan will be approved by Parliament along general lines. However, he points out that eventual ratification in detail will be more difficult than obtaining general approval in anticipation of the Lisbon meeting. He still considers a European political federation the most desirable of all European political projects. Pleven told our Ambassador that he feels the French budget problem under present conditions is insoluble since commitments in Indochina and NATO are beyond the economic and financial capabilities of the country. In conversations with Bidault and Reynaud the last few days, both indicated a government should be formed as quickly as possible and the European army pushed to completion. They agreed, however, that underlying budget and defense problem with commitments in Indochina and NATO unsolved will mean that any government will be comparatively short- lived. Bidault still favors a military program for France which every party leader except himself thinks is beyond France's financial capabilities. When pressed as to how it could be supported he has no constructive answer, ex- cept to express hope that American aid will cover "the necessary gap". EUROPEAN The Belgian representative to the European Defense DEFENSE FORCE Community conference yesterday expressed to our Embassy in London optimism at the prospects of reach- ing an early and generally satisfactory agreement on the EDC. He saw no reason why the conference could not finish the treaty ad referendum within SECRET SECURITY INFORMA TION