COMMISSION No. 285
Office of Security, Washington D.C.
September 27, 1962
Regional Security Office, Amembassy
Paris
Attempted Assassination of President
de GAULLE – August 22, 1962
Ref: Our Office Memorandum dated
September 18, 1962
On September 21, 1962, Mr. E. A.
STOCCANE, Chief, Local Investigation Unit, of this office, interviewed M. Andre
DUCRET, Commissaire Divisionnaire de Police, Chief of the Security Services of
the President of the Republic, for details concerning the attempted assassination
of President Charles de Gaulle on August 22, 1962. Mr. Stoccane obtained the
following:
The automobile in which the
President was riding was a current model CITROEN DE without any protective
devices. The tires were identified as Michelin “X”. An older model car but
armored has been available for the President’s use but he had repeatedly
declined to use it. His car was identified as a CITROEN (traction avant 13 CV)
and has been stored for several years in the garage of the Prefecture de
Police.
Until lately, President De Gaulle
had proved to be a very difficult person to protect because of his aversion to security
arrangements to ensure his personal safety. In fact, he actually dislikes being
protected. In his private moves, he does not wish to see any policeman, in or
out of uniform; nor does he want any motorcycle escorts. This was his attitude
and the situation on August 22, 1962 when the latest attempt on his life was
made.
There was no protection in front of
his car and only a single police car was following the President’s vehicle at a
discreet distance. Without the President’s knowledge M. DUCRET, as was his
usual practice, had detailed two motorcycle policeman to follow the convoy at
even a more discreet distance. They were to intervene only in case of a serious
incident. Meanwhile, they had to maintain the appearance of traffic policeman
who were not involved in the President’s movement. Thus the President’s vehicle
was traveling in the same manner as any other on the highway, stopping at
traffic signals and moving with the traffic flow. This was the manner in which
President de Gaulle had been proceeding between the Elysee Palace and his
private residence at Colombey-les-Deux-Eglises on August 22, 1962.
It was only after the first attempt against
his life at Pont-sur-Seine that the President made one concession to the staff
in charge of his security: he agreed to use an aircraft as transport from
Villacoublay to St. Dizier.
2.
He had also been advised to vary the
vehicles in which he rode, even to the extent of utilizing cars painted in
colors other than black. However he refused, declaring that he always wanted to
ride in the same black CITROEN DS.
The distance between the Elysee
Palace and Villacoublay Airport is approximately twenty kilometers. While the
route within Paris proper to the airport could have been varied, it was necessary
once on the outskirts and in the vicinity of the airport to proceed via a
crossing known as “Rond Point du Petit Clamart” or by a devious route using a
road emerging from Versailles. The shortest route, however, is by way of the “Rond
Point du Petit Clamart.”
Investigation of the August 22
attempt disclosed that the ambush had been organized and directed by a person
with military experience and this was immediately noted. The tactics employed
were similar to those used by the infantry in attacking convoys. One group
comprising two men with machine guns had, it is believed, the mission of immobilizing
the first vehicle in order to block the convoy. This was offered as an
explanation why the assilants aimed low since it appeared that they had sought
to neutralize the vehicle’s hydraulic system, and puncture the tires and
gasoline tank. It further assumed that another group was to have attacked the
President himself.
As it developed, the tires deflated
slowly and the car was thus able to proceed to the airport in the vicinity.
M. Jean-Marie BASTIEN-THIRY, the
aeronautical military engineer, who was recently apprehended and who admitted
having organized the attempt revealed during the course of his interrogation
that if the itinerary followed by the President had been known earlier and more
important, the line-up of the vehicles, his tactics would have been different
and more effective. He informed the authorities that the assailants three
vehicles would have passed the President’s car and the last of these vehicles,
a small delivery truck, would have had its rear door thrown own and fire
directed at President de Gaulle.
On Sunday, September 16, 1962,
President de Gaulle acceded to the request of his security staff and used a
helicopter from the Ecole Militaire to his private residence at
Colombay-les-Deux-Eglises. However, upon arriving at his destination, either
because of wounded pride or because these measures ran counter to his usual
attitude, he appeared to be extremely bad temper as a result of which he
neglected to attend Mass on that day, an omission that astonished his
associates.
M. DUCRET had subsequently forwarded
to the President a list of security recommendations to ensure his safety. These
were returned to him crossed with red crayon, indicating disapproval.
The combined security elements of
the Ministre de L’Interier, Ministre des Armees and the Prefet de Police have
agreed that henceforth all presidential moves, irrespective of what they might
be, shall be considered as official movements.
Consequently, the itinerary will be
carefully scrutinized, the convoy framed with motorcycles and the movement will
be accompanied by suitable sound warnings to cause other traffic to halt.
Further, a heavily armed car will precede the President’s vehicle and the
entire convoy will travel at a rate of speed which, according to M. DUCRET,
will be one of the most important security elements.
Since the foregoing and other
material previously transmitted constitute the maximum data obtainable from the
French authorities, the requirement levied on this office is considered as fulfilled.
In the event of further specific request for additional information received
from headquarters, efforts will be exerted to comply.
