Couve de Murville, Maurice

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Maurice Couve de Murville (mōrēs´ kōōv də mürvēl´), 1907–99, French politician and diplomat. After World War II he served as ambassador to Egypt, the United States, and West Germany. As minister of foreign affairs in Charles de Gaulle's administration (1958–68), he pursued the policies of keeping France out of NATO military operations and preventing Great Britain from becoming a member of the European Economic Community (Common Market). He served briefly as finance minister (May–July, 1968) and then as premier until June, 1969. He was a member of the national assembly (1973–86) and was elected to the senate in 1986, serving until 1995.

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