201. Letter From the Ambassador in France (Dillon) to the Secretary of State1
Dear Foster: I lunched alone with Jean Monnet at his apartment on Saturday, the 17th. He talked at some length about Euratom, and for my part, I think he has once again in his inimitable fashion come up with a very important idea. Reduced to its simplest terms—the present difficulties in the Middle East and the shortages of oil products caused thereby have greatly increased popular interest in Euratom.
He feels that practical, and indeed spectacular, support of Euratom by the U.S. as soon as the treaty has been signed would, in the present circumstances, have an effect in Europe comparable to that of the Marshall Plan. This could do a great deal to rebuild American prestige here without causing any damage to us in other parts of the world. I was very taken by his basic idea and agree that the U.S. now has a real and very important public relations reason for supporting Euratom to the hilt, and with as much public fanfare as possible as soon as the treaty has been signed, provided always that its provisions are satisfactory.
I hate to bother you with anything approaching work at the present moment,2 but I feel Monnet’s idea is very important and is the sort of thing which you would understand, whereas other less imaginative spirits in our government might not give it the immediate attention that I feel it deserves. My conversation with Monnet is reported at length in the enclosed telegram.3 I think you will find it of interest.
[Page 488]I hope and trust that you are enjoying your few days of rest at Key West. Please remember me to Janet.4
As ever,
Douglas Dillon