Foreign Relations of the United States, 1955–1957, Austrian State Treaty; Summit and Foreign Ministers Meetings, 1955, Volume V

123. Telegram From the Embassy in France to the Department of State¹

Paris, May 26, 1955—noon.

5178. For Secretary from Dillon. I also was greatly shocked by Pinay’s announcement of suggestions contained in Deptel 4174,² which announcement was made by him personally as he was leaving meeting of Conseil des Ministres at Elysees Palace. While during my talk earlier in the morning with Pinay I did not specifically charge him to secrecy on this matter, letter as delivered to him was very plainly marked “Secret” in large letters, and I did specifically point out to him that in my opinion the most important immediate item in the letter was the suggestion as to tactics that should be adopted by the three powers toward the Soviet Union: i.e., the advisability or not of sending a further communication to the Soviets.³ In view of this I must frankly admit it never occurred to me that Pinay would leak the contents of such a possible future note prior to its delivery and even prior to three power agreement on its content.

In view of Pinay’s extreme pride and “amour propre” I do not feel it would serve any purpose for me to speak to him specifically on this subject. However, I am having Achilles speak to Laloy, Pinay’s Chef de Cabinet, de Margerie and Berard today⁴ in accordance with Deptel 4202.⁵

Provided suitable occasion arises I will also mention the matter direct to Pinay and Faure.

I am afraid that leak is merely result of Pinay’s extreme inexperience in the handling of foreign affairs and that despite anything we may say other “gaffes” may be expected from him from time to time.

Dillon

1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 396.1/5–2655. Secret; Priority; Limit Distribution.
2. Same as Document 119.
3. In telegram 5145 from Paris, May 25, Dillon reported that he had delivered Dulles’ message that morning. (Department of State, Central Files, 396.1/5–2555)
4. At 8 p.m. on May 26 Dillon reported that representations had been made “bluntly” to Berard and de Margerie who had commented “ruefully” that they too had been shocked and surprised by Pinay’s statement. (Telegram 5213 from Paris; ibid., 396.1/5– 2655)
5. Supra.