PERSONAL AND CONFIDENTIAL

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Grandville--and it is in the interest of the Soviets that they hear it--a decade of constructive French post-war diplomacy will have gone out of the window.

I asked De La Grandville how Couve, who knew Germany, could be part of such a policy. De La Grandville said that Couve was a dour cynic obsessed by the danger of American imperialism and recently increasingly distrustful of the Germans. He had recently said that the Germans were reliable only in their stupidity.

With respect to the last point De La Grandville felt that he would have to add a critical comment about the U.S. He had the impression that American diplomatic personnel were constantly egging on the Germans against France sometimes with extremely wounding remarks. Many of these comments became immediately known in France. While he did not want to say that such actions provoked current French policy, they were certainly grist to its mill.

Summing up he saw no hope for any Franco-American dialogue until after the French elections and then only on the assumption that De Gaulle was now playing for the Communist votes and that he would turn on them as he turned on the Algerians who helped him into office.

If this assumption was wrong, De La Grandville was convinced that France would wind up isolated and wind up on its knees begging for terms--a prospect which no patriotic Frenchman could welcome. In the interim he hoped that the United States would continue to have the wisdom to ignore De Gaulle rather than force a frontal show-down which must wreck everything.

that the United States would continue to have the wisdom to ignore De Gaulle
broader which no patriotic Frenchman could welcome. In the interim he hoped
France would wind up isolated and wind up on its knees begging for terms--a
It this assumption was wrong, De La Grandville was convinced that
on the Vigeriane who helped him into office.

playing for the Communist vote and that he would turn on them as he turned
the French elections and then only on the assumption that De Gaulle was now
Summing up he saw no hope for any Franco-American dialogue until after
actions provoked current French policy, they were certainly strict to its will.
present immediately known in France. While he did not want to say that such
France sometimes with extremely wounding remarks. Many of these comments
American diplomatic personnel were constantly egging on the Germans against
have to add a critical comment about the U.S. He had the impression that
With respect to the last point De La Grandville felt that he would
attractivity.

the Germans. He had recently said that the Germans were reliable only in their
by the danger of American imperialism and recently increasingly distrustful of
ot such a policy. De La Grandville said that Conve was a donic clinic opressed
I asked De La Grandville how Conve, who knew Germany, could be part
window.

decade of constructive French post-war diplomacy will have gone out of the
Grandville--and it is in the interest of the Soviets that they bear it--a

PERSONAL AND CONFIDENTIAL

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