396.1–GE/4–2954: Telegram
The Ambassador in France (Dillon) to the Department of State
priority
3960. Repeated information priority Geneva 83, London 944. ReDeptel 3689, April 15.1 Chauvel and Lacoste, who have just returned from Geneva, sent for Achilles this morning to discuss seating arrangements. Achilles said these discussions going on in Washington and could not be duplicated here, to which they agreed but wished in any event to explain situation with help of plan of Council Chamber they had brought back. Briefly their view was that “auditorium type” arrangement would be difficult and expensive to install, would presumably result in there being only one microphone at rostrum instead of one at each place which would change character of meeting from that of conference to that of an assembly. To avoid this they favored closing fourth side of existing three-sided table.
Achilles reminded them of strength of US position as stated reference telegram that US might attend conference only as observer rather than accept seating arrangement which did not make clear distinction between Communists and other participants. They had not realized we felt so strongly (it was not clear whether French Embassy Washington had softened its report or whether Chauvel and Lacoste had merely not seen it) and indicated considerable concern. They mentioned possibility of assigning one side of square table to Communist bloc and seating remainder around other three sides.
Achilles reiterated strength of our feeling on subject and that it must be negotiated in Washington rather than here but said he would forward their views.