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

740.5/1–1553: Telegram

The Ambassador in France (Dunn) to the Department of State ¹

secret
priority

Paris, January 15, 1953—8 p.m.

3975. Reference Polto 1152, January 14² and Embtel 3964, January 15.³ Subject is European Defense Community.

In conversation with Embassy EDC observer this morning, Alphand outlined tentative plans of French Government on additional protocols to EDC treaty. He stressed that protocols should be considered as implementation or completion of EDC treaty and that French proposals do not require any revision of any paragraph in EDC treaty. He regretted that Mayer had used term “rectification” in EDC treaty in speech before Anglo-American press club but acknowledged that perhaps this word might give certain groups in France satisfaction even though it was inaccurate. Alphand was troubled that certain newspapers already took line that protocols being sought did not amount to anything. It would help ratification greatly if assembly could believe protocols were very important. Following is substance present French intentions:

(1) With reference to protocol directing SACEUR to approve withdrawal of French units for use in French Union, Alphand added very little to information in earlier messages. He did say that protocol should also include binding recommendation to French Government to replace withdrawn units as quickly as possible. Exact language proposed should be available to us this week end.

(2) Alphand suggested that theoretical problem of weighted-voting procedure under Article 43–BIS might be corrected by provision prolonging indefinitely transitional voting procedure, thus maintaining Franco-German equality.

(3) On maintenance of “integrity” of French forces, Alphand stressed that EDC administration would have a voice in naming officers in French overseas forces in same way that France would have a voice in nomination of officers in EDC forces. He hoped this important concession of joint administration would enable other EDC countries to agree quickly to French proposal.

(4) Alphand again mentioned two years as length of interim period for French troops to have special status in Germany taking into account status of United States and British troops. He added that French would also propose establishment of a system whereby EDC forces, stationed in a country other than their own, would receive certain station and expatriation allowances.

(5) Alphand said French would propose that support costs for French troops in Germany continue for six months after date EDC treaty and contractual agreements enter into force.

(6) Alphand proposed three lines of action for British:

(a) Certain agreements covering manner in which land and air forces of United Kingdom and EDC would be integrated and work together, including provision for mixed commands, are already being discussed and drafts from Hoyer-Millar are expected soon.

(b) New ways should be found for British to go further in committing themselves to maintain troops on European continent.

(c) Institutional association between United Kingdom and EDC, such as that being discussed in Luxembourg and Strasbourg, should be developed.

(7) Alphand also said that a general understanding would have to be reached with United States on administration, organization and procedures in connection with end-item assistance.⁴ He apologized for pressing United States now in view of delay of interim committee in not accepting our proposal to exchange views sooner. He hoped we could submit in next few days a preliminary paper on our intentions which would provide a basis for talks to proceed with interim committee.

Alphand concluded by stating that these points had not been definitively approved by Cabinet action but he believed requests for protocols would be limited to these points. He then touched on Saar and United States aid as related matters which would have to be discussed. He expected French Cabinet to make final decisions next week on these subjects and to begin conversations with other EDC countries the week following. He said he would give German EDC delegation some indication of French intentions and is making an appointment with deputy head of German delegation this afternoon.

Alphand confirmed that groups in French Government were still thinking about possibility of interim period in which certain provisions of EDC treaty would not go into effect.

He said suggestions involved permitting each government, including German Government, to exercise defense powers for brief period which would be directly in conflict with EDC treaty. He did not expect any of suggestions to be adopted. His staff was now preparing a paper to demonstrate that EDC treaty already had made provision for transitional period adequate to permit practical operation.⁵

Dunn

1. Repeated to London and Bonn.
2. Not printed; it reported that since the investiture of René Mayer as French Prime Minister at the turn of the year Alphand and other supporters were greatly encouraged about the prospects for French ratification of the EDC Treaty. (740.5/1–1353)
3. Not printed; it reported that French officials on the EDC Interim Committee had advised the SHAPE observer that the modifications to EDC proposed by the Mayer government were limited to negotiating protocols which would insure French freedom to withdraw forces for use within the French Union, insure French freedom to produce and export war matériel within the French Union without the possibility of a veto by the EDC Commissariat, insure the integrity of French forces and Franco-German equality in a weighted voting procedure, and, finally, insure that French forces remaining in the Federal Republic after June 30, 1953 would have the same status as U.K. and U.S. forces. (740.5/1–553)
4. Documentation on U.S. economic assistance to France is presented in volume VI.
5. Telegrams Polto 1171 (Jan. 15), 3998 (Jan. 16), 4031 (Jan. 19), and 4045 (Jan. 20) from Draper and Dunn at Paris reported the confused and concerned reaction of EDC signatory governments, especially Italy and the United Kingdom, to the planned introduction by France of new protocols to the EDC Treaty. Telegram 4045 also reported that Alphand had responded to this unfavorable reaction with the promise to make the drafts of the suggested protocols available to the heads of the delegations to the EDC Interim Committee as quickly as possible, perhaps as early as Feb. 15. All telegrams cited above are in file 740.5.