Memorandum, State Department Summary of Telegrams

DEPARTMENT OF STATE OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY WASHINGTON DECLASSIFIED E.O. 12065, Sec. 3-402 State Dept. Guidelines, March 6, 1982 May 9, 1950 By DEB NLT, Date 5-14-85 E R E SUMMARY OF TELEGRAMS US-FRANCE In their conversations in Paris yesterday morning, Secretary Acheson and French Foreign Minister Schuman discussed our world-wide objectives, Franco-American relations and the problem of Indochina. The Secretary stated that the US regards the next three or four years as critical, that the USSR by devoting proportionately more to its military budget than the West may so widen the gap militarily by 1953 or 1954 that she may be induced to take hostile measures leading to disasterous re- sults, and that the West must examine its defense program and strengthen its economic base within its larger margin for effort. He spoke in this connection of utilizing the resources of Germany, the problem of Southeast Asia, the importance of our propaganda effort, and the need to create organizations which should be the assistant of not a substitute for action. Schuman agreed fully, with certain differ- ences of perspective, stressing that our propaganda theme must counter the powerful Communist emphasis on peace, and that Ger- many must be subject to discipline in taking her place in the West- ern community. Schuman spoke eloquently of the excellent state of Franco-American relations and discussed the colonial problem as being a point of divergence on which the US attitude had caused some concern. The Secretary replied that most of our problems lay in third areas and that the US understood and appreciated the policy of France toward the French union. Both agreed upon the necessity for the early negotiation of a Treaty of Friendship, Commerce and Navigation. Schuman stated that Indochina was the crucial prob- lem for France, that without help, France could not carry both bur - dens and would have to revise her European commitments as she SECRET