24. Letter From the Ambassador in France (Dillon) to the Ambassador in the Soviet Union (Bohlen)1
Dear Chip: Bob Joyce has shown me the very complete letter which he has written you regarding Pineau, Mollet and Company.2 I am in general agreement with everything he had to say and would only like to add my personal estimate of the situation.
[1 paragraph (9½ lines of source text) not declassified.]
During the course of the NATO meeting3 he [Pineau] did not make a very good impression on any of the other delegations, particularly when it came to the drafting of the communiqué, because he insisted on eliminating everything that he felt might in any way give offense to the Soviets.
I think he realizes the depth of our feeling about Communist China and will avoid falling into any trap on that subject, although personally he is of course in favor of recognition of Communist China by the Western powers and the maximum of trade and cultural exchanges between Communist China and the West.
In addition, he has a habit of liking to talk over serious matters almost alone and often without the presence of anyone from his staff. The Soviets may be aware of this and if they are, I would imagine they would try to get him in a tête-à-tête talk where he would not have the benefit of Laloy’s4 and Massigli’s advice.
Mollet is much more clear headed and I think the reserved attitude of the French Socialist delegation which you described in one of the telegrams from Moscow represents fully Mollet’s thinking and directive [direction?]. [2 lines of source text not declassified]
We would appreciate receiving in the greatest detail possible any information you can gather regarding the happenings during this visit, as well as information you may gather of visits by other French delegations.
Please give my love to Avis.5
Sincerely yours,