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SENT DEPARTMENT 4766 REPEATED INFORMATION GENEVA 370.

DEPARTMENT LIMIT DISTRIBUTION

GENEVA EYES ONLY UNDER SECRETARY

Reference: DEPTEL 4421 and DULTE 156.

I saw Schumann yesterday afternoon and endeavored to explain to him our need for a French statement as to how they proposed to handle their actions as described in second paragraph of reference Department telegram. Schumann had difficulty understanding just what it was we wanted at this time as he considers that the basis for an agreement in principle has been reached and that it was impossible to go further until the Geneva conference had definitely failed. He pointed out that since the basic US requirement was that any French request for military assistance must be approved by the French Parliament, such a request could not (repeat not) be made while there was any hope for progress at Geneva because of the strong feeling in the Parliament that everything possible should be done to reach an agreement at Geneva.

He then told me that Under SecreatySecretary [sic] apparently agreed that agreement had been reached in principle and he read me a telegram from Bidault reporting same conversation as that reported in DULTE 156. Bidault reported that Under Secretary had expressed pleasure that agreement in principle had now been reached. Regarding numbered paragraphs of DULTE 156 Bidault's report had following items of interest:

Paragraph 1. Bidault reported that Under Secretary agreed with him that this problem was over-complicated and should be simplified.

Paragraph 2. Bidault stated that he felt that the Thai resolution took care of this problem and he stated that the Under Secretary agreed with him that this problem had now been solved.

Paragraph 3. No difference. Rh Rh