December 15, 1952
MEMORANDUM OF CONVERSATION
Participants: Foreign Minister Lange Mr. Acheson
Secretary Acheson met Foreign Minister Lange this afternoon at the Palais de Chaillot. He told Mr. Lange that he did not know the origin of the report that he had wanted to get in touch with Mr. Lange, and that he was sorry for the confusion. In any case, he did now wish to speak to Mr. Lange. Mr. Lange said that his office had received information from someone in the United States Embassy, he believed Mr. Appleby, to the effect that the United States desired the Norwegian Delegation to take the lead in opposing the French proposal for a NAC resolution on Tunisia. Mr. Lange said he had gathered from that request that the Secretary might wish to speak with him about the matter. Mr. Lange said that Norway, because of the stand it had taken on the Tunisian and Moroccan item in the UN at New York, was not apparently in the best of relations with the French. As a result, they would prefer not to lead the fight against the French resolution but would by happy to join with others in opposing it, once someone had made a counterproposal. The Secretary said that the United States idea regarding the resolution had now changed and that he would have someone on the US Delegation inform Mr. Lange of our current thoughts. The Secretary mentioned that there had been some consideration given to the idea of mentioning Korea and other Far Eastern problems in connection with the effort of opposing Communism. He said he understood the French were not too keen about this idea. In any case, he said, he would make sure that Mr. Lange was informed regarding the current plan.
(This matter was taken up by me with Mr. Perkins and Mr. Parsons who indicated one of them would get in touch with the appropriate person in Mr. Merchant's office and would insure that the Norwegians were properly informed.)
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