Foreign Relations of the United States, 1958–1960, Arab-Israeli Dispute; United Arab Republic; North Africa, Volume XIII

297. Memorandum of a Conference With the President, White House, Washington, August 21, 1959, 2–2:50 p.m.¹

Washington, August 21, 1959, 2–2:50 p.m..

OTHERS PRESENT

• Secretary Herter, Secretary Murphy, Secretary Merchant, Mr. Ivan White, General Goodpaster, Major Eisenhower

[Here follows discussion of Khrushchev’s impending visit to the United States, President Eisenhower’s upcoming trip to Europe, Adenauer and Germany, and Berlin.]

Mr. Herter said that Adenauer will in all likelihood make a plea for the United States to support De Gaulle on Algeria. The President said that we cannot abandon our old principles of supporting a national freedom and self-determination, and we cannot join the colonialists. In his opinion we are deep enough in Europe’s troubles now, and must be tough in saying that we do not propose to go deeper. Of course we can say that we are ready to support any scheme that France can work out with the little countries on the basis of mutual agreement.

Mr. Herter said that Hammarskjold had had a talk with De Gaulle regarding Algeria. It is probable that the French are simply going to ask for a “blank check” support for themselves in Algeria. The President said he knows no reason why we should change our course at this time. Mr. Herter pointed out that the French take the stand that the Algerian question is an internal problem. They do not want to fight their own battle in the United Nations but want us to fight it for them. The President said that if a bad resolution were put forward in the UN we could of course help them to fight it. He asked why they did not put in their own resolution. Mr. Murphy said the French policy has been not to fight their own battles. In addition, they have never stated what their policy for Algeria really is. Mr. Herter said that the oil development by the French in the Sahara now makes mandatory an access route. Mr. Murphy suggested that the President might tell Adenauer that, regarding Algeria, he will be hoping to find out just what De Gaulle’s policy is. The President recognized that there are dangers in this situation. It could cause the breaking up of NATO. He was confident, however, that we will not gain strength for the West by letting the French and the Germans walk on us. Mr. Herter thought this was especially true with regard to the matter of colonialism.²

[Here follows discussion of tripartite planning and nuclear test suspension.]

G
Brigadier General USA

1. Source: Eisenhower Library, Whitman File, Eisenhower Diaries. Secret. Drafted by Goodpaster on August 24. The time of the meeting is taken from Eisenhower’s Appointment Book. (Ibid., President’s Daily Appointments)
2. Eisenhower and Norstad also discussed Algeria on August 24. (Memorandum of conference with the President, August 25; ibid., Whitman File, Eisenhower Diaries) On August 26, the President left Washington for consultations with allies in Bonn, London, and Paris in preparation for Khrushchev’s visit. He returned on September 7. Eisenhower discussed Algeria with Adenauer and De Gaulle. Memoranda of his August 27 conversations with Adenauer and his September 2 conversations with De Gaulle are scheduled for publication in volume VII.