72. Memorandum of Conversation0
SUBJECT
- Atomic Cooperation
PARTICIPANTS
- M. Hervé Alphand, French Ambassador
- M. Charles Lucet, Minister, French Embassy
- The Secretary
- Mr. R.H. McBride—WE
- Mr. L.D. Brown—WE
The Ambassador said that he thought that the matter of U.S. assistance to France in regard to an atomic submarine had been settled in principle. France, he noted, wanted to send a mission to the U.S. soon to negotiate the appropriate agreement and to have this negotiation underway before the NATO Ministerial Meeting. He wondered if there were reasons for what seems to be a delay.
The Secretary replied that there seem to be difficulties. Although he had not yet received formally the report of the security investigation, he [Page 124] understood that there would probably be some problems to be ironed out. It may not be possible to so do before the December NATO meeting. When the report is received, it will be studied to see if the problems it raises can be dealt with at the same time that negotiations are underway. This may prove to be impossible.
The Ambassador said that he had recently talked to Admiral Rick-over who had expressed his opposition to assisting France in obtaining a nuclear submarine.
The Secretary replied that the principle had been decided by the President. There is no desire to evade assurances given last year and repeated to General deGaulle in July.1
- Source: Department of State, Central Files, 751.5621/11–2858. Secret. Drafted by Brown.↩
- See Document 34.↩