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

740.5/6–1754: Telegram

The United States High Commissioner for Germany (Conant) to the Department of State ¹

secret

Bonn, June 17, 1954—2 p.m.

3934. Re ourtel 3933, June 17.² Staff appraisal position Federal Republic Government on eve NRW elections:

The fall of Laniel Government and failure thus far to call new French elections have profoundly discouraged German supporters of Western integration. CDU faction leader Krone reports Chancellor deeply worried by development. This confirmed by FDP faction leader Dehler. Both tended to minimize effect this development on coming North Rhine-Westphalia elections but clearly alive to new grounds for criticism of Chancellor’s policy now placed in hands of SPD. Ollenhauer has already exploited situation by claiming this the worst defeat for Kleineuropa policy in 5 years. Symptomatic of this SPD tactic is virulently sarcastic lead editorial in June 15 SPD Pressedienst (see Bonn telegram 745, June 16).³

Furthermore Geneva has up to present created impression in Germany of Western division and faltering leadership. We fear that any prolonged period in which France without a government and during which the US appeared inactive would create in Germany the impression that the US is failing to provide leadership in the field of Western integration and defense upon which it has placed so much emphasis. Majority press, although uncertain and even pessimistic about EDC prospects evince confidence that American leadership will produce some satisfactory solution if EDC fails. Visit of Churchill and Eden to Washington⁴ generally felt will lead to some agreement as to EDC alternatives if latter found necessary. Thus, while German confidence in us still high and belief prevalent that positive action will be forthcoming, lack of such action in due time would result in tremendous disillusionment. Indications that notion is spreading that changes in policy are in the wind are:

(1) Play in some German papers given to putting Bonn convention into force independently of EDC;

(2) Reports that German steel circles stepping up their criticism of Schumann plan on ground that it involved economic sacrifices for German industry justifiable only as first step towards integration Western Europe which is not taking place;

(3) German Foreign Office Saar expert beginning to speak of evolving Saar settlement not based on Europeanization concept.

We believe developments noted above may have some bearing upon NRW elections to disadvantage of CDU. If Chancellor’s party should suffer significant losses there to SPD or FDP this would be interpreted generally in Germany as proof Chancellor is slipping and would encourage more and more his supporters to back away from his Western integration policy. Under such circumstances we doubt Chancellor could hold Germany in present foreign policy course after Bundestag reconvenes in fall if no effective progress made during summer towards European integration, restoration of German sovereignty and building European defense.

Conant

1. Repeated to London, Paris, and Berlin.
2. Not printed; it reported on a conversation between Conant and Adenauer during which Adenauer “assured me he would find way solve protocol problem and neither I nor Bruce should worry further about it. He seemed appreciate fully point which I emphasized on my own behalf and that of Bruce, namely, that no one would understand breaking down of negotiations on German refusal meet French request on question President Heuss sending letter to French Government requesting deposit protocols. But he did not specifically assent to any particular solution this problem.” (740.5/6–1754)
3. Not printed.
4. Prime Minister Sir Winston Churchill and Foreign Secretary Anthony Eden conferred in Washington with President Eisenhower and Secretary Dulles between June 25 and 29. See editorial note, p. 984.