GAVIN'S DIPLOMACY IS TESTED IN SMOOTHING A PARIS QUARREL

Document Type: 
Collection: 
Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 
CIA-RDP80M01009A000100040008-7
Release Decision: 
RIFPUB
Original Classification: 
K
Document Page Count: 
1
Document Creation Date: 
December 23, 2016
Document Release Date: 
May 23, 2013
Sequence Number: 
8
Case Number: 
Publication Date: 
May 4, 1961
Content Type: 
OPEN SOURCE
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PDF icon CIA-RDP80M01009A000100040008-7.pdf63.63 KB
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AA A4 I Declassified and Approved For Release 2013/05/23: CIA-RDP80M01009A000100040008-7 Gavitn'slitplomacy Is Tested In Smoothing a Paris Quarrel Envoy, Honor Guest at Lunch, Eases British-French Clash on Rumors u About C.I.A. Special to The New York Times. PARIS, May 3?The diplo- matic talents of James M. Gavin, the United States Am- bassador, were put to a test to- day at a luncheon given in his honor by the Anglo-American Press Association of Paris. What was supposed to be a friendly affair was made tense by questions put to the Ambas- sador on the possible role of the Central Intelligence Agency in the four-day French military mutiny in Algeria that eol- lapsed last week. The Ambassador denied Tu- mors that the Central Intelli- gence Agency had been involved in any way in the military coup. But when a British correspond- ent, Sam White of The Evening Standard of London, suggested ? that the French Foreign Min- istry had contributed to the ru- mor campaign, the Ministry's spokesman, Pierre Baraduc a Iluncheon guest, became censed that he threaten leave the room. 'Either he leaves or.?I Baraduc said, looking . White who sat acrosrt table from him. . Diplomat Still'A. Ambassador Gavin the French diplomat and vailed upon him to remain. ar. White made no move to leave. Still aggravated, M. Baraduc said afterward that he could, not accept insinuations that the, Frendh Government had in any, way fostered the rumors. General Gavin at first showed reluctance to comment on the rumors, which have been per- sistent almost from the start of the mutiny April 22. But when pressed, he said there was no foundation for them. Mr. White's question reflected an impression in Paris that the French Government's position on the matter has been at the least equivocal. Officials have made it clear that France con- sidered it the United States' task, not hers, to deal with the rumors. , Cuban Landings Recalled The same officials indicated they were not satisfied with a direct statement Monday from Allen W. Dulles, director of the Central Intelligence Agency, saying the charges against his organization were false. The unsuccessful Cuban revolt, which involved the agency, has colored French thinking about the United States intelligence system, and Ambassador Gavin acknowledged that this involve- ment might have encouraged 41k of similar involvement in Algeria. The Ambassador was able to strike a more positive note by mentioning the letter he had de- livered at the height of the rench crisis to Presidtnt de Gaulle from President Kennedy, in'which 'full 'United States sup- port was offered. The Ambassbllor rejected any ea that the rumors about the entral? Intelligence Agency tm re creating a bad -a...Aosphere the state visit that Mr. Kennedy is to make to France May 30 to Tune 2. 'There can be no question of the closeness that has grown out of the' exchange of messages betweeit the two Presidents," he I said. Declassified and Approved For Release 2013/05/23: CIA-RDP80M01009A000100040008-7