War and Peace in the Nuclear Age; Interview with Pierre Messmer, 1986
Description:
Pierre Messmer was the French Minister of Armies from 1960-1969, and Prime Minister from 1972-1974. Most of the interview is taken up with descriptions of the thinking of President De Gaulle toward NATO and nuclear weapons. His basic point is that De Gaulle opposed a NATO integrated military command and pressed for a French nuclear capability primarily because he believed in France's need for independence. The French president did not think that the threat from the Soviet Union was significant at the time, Mr. Messmer argues, but because of his "tragic view of history" believed that the need would eventually arise for the country to develop all possible resources at its disposal. Mr. Messmer relates several instances of further disagreement with the United States, including France's refusal to accept the offer of Polaris missiles in 1963. He identifies a number of mistaken U.S. conceptions about Europe and France, noting for example that Robert McNamara's flexible response doctrine was inappropriate for Europe. Other governments accepted it, in his opinion, because they had no choice. He also touches on France's sometimes difficult relations with Germany and Britain. After witnessing a nuclear test in the Sahara, De Gaulle, according to Mr. Messmer, called it "magnificent"; however, he contends that the president was referring to the implications of the test for France rather than the impressiveness of the device. The interview concludes with Mr. Messmer's assertion that the attractiveness of nuclear weapons in the early days derived from both security concerns and national prestige.
