Foreign Relations of the United States, 1950, Western Europe, Volume III

740.5/4–1550: Telegram

The Ambassador in France (Bruce) to the Secretary of State

top secret
priority

Paris, April 15, 1950—1 p. m.

1736. Eyes only for the Secretary from Bruce. Following is for such limited distribution within Department as you deem fit. In view of nature of sources, which are entirely reliable but unofficial, I hope it will not be repeated to other posts or otherwise circulated.

1. For some weeks Bidault¹ has been toying with idea of taking lead publicly in proposing strengthening Atlantic Pact organization by setting up within it civilian general staff for total diplomacy and coordinating political, economic and military policies of Pact countries through small Permanent Committee half of whom would be Europeans and the other half Americans and Canadians. The exact composition of such a committee is not, however, a matter which he is now ready to propose as he realizes the difficulties inherent in such a selection and apportionment but he does consider it extremely important that there should be a Canadian member. He does not believe that a committee with representation from each participating country can function effectively. Responsible to this committee might be an International Resources Planning Board.

2. Although Schuman is aware of the general discussions and speculations that have been taking place on this subject in the US, UK and France and himself referred to need for taking from NAT its too exclusively military character in speech at last convention of MRP (Embtel 1415 March 27)², he was not informed until after his return from vacation on Thursday of this week of Bidault’s intentions. Bidault withheld earlier action until he could consult with Schuman on subject.

3. Bidault’s motives are probably somewhat mixed. He considers that he was the forgotten man in the beginnings of the Marshall Plan since he responded favorably to the General’s Harvard speech³ before Bevin⁴ did, although in much less vigorous terms. He also sees in this concept a way in which to dramatize himself before the French public and firm up his feeble hold on his government. He likewise envisages the possibility of France thereby acquiring a prestige in international councils which is now sadly lacking and likes the idea of an imaginative approach toward further North Atlantic unification. Nor do I believe that he would be reluctant to seize this torch before the British or ourselves lay hand on it.

4. He is, I think, unless enlightened by Schuman in the last two days, unaware that this subject has been under serious consideration for a long time in Washington and also no doubt in London.

5. In last night’s Le Monde, Jean Jacques Schreiber, its leading foreign policy writer, opened the ball with a long article which is being telegraphed to you (Embtel 1737)⁵. In the course of it he calls for a third man, an European statesman who can grasp and develop the idea that the evolution of the Atlantic community is now entering on a third stage as clearly as did Mr. Churchill in 1940 and General Marshall in 1947 in regard to the previous two stages, and who can formulate policies appropriate to the strengthening of the community to face the problems of this forthcoming stage.

6. Schreiber does not so state but Bidault is to be this third man and the latter will not be coy about accepting the designation.

7. To this end Bidault will, in a speech tomorrow night at Lyon, outline his general views in this respect and then await what he hopes will be a favorable North Atlantic reaction. He will not, however, probably mention any of the particular methods of implementation such as the formation of committees to which I have referred, leaving details to be filled in later as may appear expedient.

8. If all goes well the French Government will have some sort of plan ready to present to the Secretary when he arrives in Paris.

9. Meanwhile Schreiber will continue in Le Monde to feed the public with any further ideas that may emanate from Bidault and those in his immediate confidence.

Bruce

1. Georges Bidault, French Minister, October 1949–June 1950.
2. Not printed.
3. Speech by General of the Army George C. Marshall at Harvard University, June 5, 1947, initiating the idea of a European Recovery Program. For text, see Department of State Bulletin, June 15, 1947, pp. 1159–1160. For related documention, see Foreign Relations, 1947, vol. i, pp. 1028 ff.
4. Ernest Bevin, British Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs.
5. Not printed.