Foreign Relations of the United States, 1952–1954, Western European Security, Volume V, Part 1

740.5/5–2152: Telegram

The Secretary of State to the Office of the United States High Commissioner for Germany, at Bonn¹

secret
niact

Washington, May 21, 1952—8:13 p.m.

3285. Fol are highlights EDC Mins mtg May 21 at Paris as reported by telecon to Dept:

1) Length of Service: Van Zeeland stated that Belgians attach greatest importance to uniformity of lgth of service. However, he requested that second para be added to special protocol on lgth of service which wld say that member states wld reach agreement soon as possible and at latest in three months. Without above para, Van Zeeland said, ratification in Belgium wld be extremely difficult and govt cld not hold in service present classes which will have completed 18 months at end of July. With above para political situ inside Belgium cld be maintained until EDC had taken its decision. He said frankly that if above text not accepted he wld have to consult Cabinet and was not sure of obtaining authorization to sign. Even if he was authorized to sign, he wld have to make a declaration on necessity of bringing into effect provisions of protocol in very brief delay. If Belgium request not accepted it might be necessary for Belgium to delay Parliamentary ratification until inter-governmental agreement reached. He stated that until treaty ratified, Belgium wld maintain its entire liberty to modify by itself duration of service. Schuman stated that Fr Parl wld have to approve lgth of service change and it wld be difficult for Fr Govt to make a commitment on final solution. Hallstein agreed with Van Zeeland amendment. Experts will study this question tomorrow but mins will probably have to take up on Fri.

2) Nomination of Officers: Art 30—Member states can choose whether commissions will be granted and promotions made by Commissariat on recommendation of mil echelons of Community, after consultation with natl authorities on recommendation of Commissariat. This does not apply to gen officers, who are appointed by Council.

3) Article 10: Generally agreed so that there can be natl forces for internatl missions limited to those assumed in Berlin, Austria or as a result of UN decisions. At completion of these missions these units will be either dissolved or put at disposal of EDC. In case where an internatl mission is conferred on a member state outside territory defined in Art 119 para 1, a fraction of natl contingents necessary for this mission can be provided by Commissariat with agreement of SHAPE and a two-thirds majority approval of EDC Council. Contingents thus detached from community cease to belong to Community until completion of their mission. Under this provision natl contingents in being can, with approval of EDC, be released to meet aggression outside Eur at request of UN.

4) Duration of Treaty: Stikker reported that Neth had not changed position and asked if other Dels had any remarks to make. Alphand (sitting for Schuman, who had gone to Cabinet meeting) replied that Schuman was requesting instrs from Cabinet but that Schuman attached great importance to Neth and of course Belg being members of EDC. Without Benelux difficult to envisage an EDC. On other hand, Schuman simply did not see how it wld be possible to accept Dutch reservation which wld place permanence of EDC in peril. Hallstein stated he completely approved Alphand’s statement of Schuman views. Taviani stated it will be impossible for Ital Parl to accept Dutch reservation. No further discussion.

5) Stikker then reported in view of opinions of all other dels on Article 119 he cld accept that EDF forces cld be sent into all territories covered by Art 6 of NAT and not just Eur territory covered by Brit guarantee. He stated he cld make this concession because he was convinced that in case in question all members of EDC and not just Neth wld act only after consultation and close contact with UK.

6) Subsequent treaties: (Art 120) Hallstein agreed to drop Ger proposal that Commissariat be empowered to make recommendations on draft internatl agreements of each country if they affected EDC. Mins however agreed that implications of proposal for a common foreign policy of six states was an objective which must be kept in mind for future and wld be an essential part of any federation.

7) Weighted Voting in Council (Art 42 and 42 bis): Until end of build-up period in 1954, voting rights will be calculated arbitrarily as fol—Fr (3), Ger (3), Ital (3), Belg (2), Neth (2), Luxem (1). After 1954 voting rights will be based on average of forces and finances effectively contributed to EDC as now set forth in May 9 treaty draft.

8) Fr Cabinet mtg today inconclusive re giving Schuman authority to sign EDC. Chief problem that of rights and privileges Fr troops in Ger up to June 30, 1953. Gers once agreed that logistical support provisions applying to Fr in Ger till June 30, 1953, wld be those of Bonn convention on rights and obligations, which apply to US and UK and not those of EDC status convention. Recently Gers reneged on this agreement in Bonn, and they remained adamant at this evenings meetings in Paris.

On other hand, Fr till now seemed anxious to have Bonn convention apply to them only with respect to logistical support provisions; they seemed content to be covered in jurisdictional and taxation matters by EDC status convention. We were told tonight that Fr this afternoon insisted that on these matters also they must come under Bonn and not under EDC convention. It is not entirely clear just what Fr position now is. But if it is as described above on jurisdictional matter, then it is new and promises good deal of trouble. Fr and Ger conversations in Paris today on this point went very badly. Fr and Ger experts now say they cannot reach agreement and say question shld go back to Bonn and if necessary to mins.

9) Steering Comite will meet beginning 11:30 tomorrow morning to do necessary redrafting on Art 119, convention on EDC tax regime, text on official language and translations of treaty and Art 42 on voting rights. Status convention will also be considered by Steering Comite. Technical comites will also meet to consider Van Zeeland amendment on lgth of service protocol and question of EDC schools outside territory defined in Art 6 of NAT.

10) Ref para 4 above compromise proposed by Schuman but rejected by Stikker was as fol: “The present treaty is concluded for a period of 50 years from the date of its entry into force. In the event that the North Atlantic Treaty shld cease to be in effect before the expiration of the present treaty, the member states shall consult together and agree on measures to be taken”.

Acheson

1. Drafted by Barnard; sent also to Rome, Brussels, The Hague, Paris, and Luxembourg.