The French president, Gen Charles de Gaulle, saw himself as "almost divinely invested with a mission to restore France to a place of pre-eminence in the world," according to a biographical note prepared by the Department of External Affairs in 1967.
The 14-page document, which was prepared for the then Taoiseach, Mr Jack Lynch, in advance of a summit in Paris in November 1967, was among the State papers released yesterday. It forms part of a substantial brief prepared for Mr Lynch.
At the time Ireland had reapplied for membership of the European Community, as had Britain. Gen de Gaulle was objecting to Britain's application.
Mr Lynch was advised that Gen de Gaulle "does not hesitate to go as far as identifying himself personally with France and presenting himself as the person uniquely destined to be the leader whose personal vision of France and whose policies in pursuit of that vision must be accepted as, almost by definition, not to be questioned as to their intrinsic merit."
"Gen de Gaulle retains a very great personal regard for President de Valera, and he never fails to ask after him most warmly and sincerely when e.g. the ambassador has the occasion to meet him at official functions."
A December 1967 Department of External Affairs memorandum on Ireland's application for membership of the EEC states that France's motivation for keeping Britain out is primarily political.
"In a Europe of Six, France is assured of remaining the dominant partner as long as Germany is divided. President de Gaulle seems determined to keep Britain out for political reasons."
Ireland's primary objective for joining the EEC was not political and it did not have the same reluctance as Britain about an interim arrangement leading to membership. Ireland should try to encourage Britain to look at some interim arrangement leading to full membership, the memorandum suggested.
If this was rejected, then Ireland should explore with the Six and with Britain the possibility of Ireland obtaining an interim arrangement with the Community independently of Britain, while safeguarding "as far as possible" its trading interests with Britain.