850.33/10–1350: Telegram
The Ambassador in the United Kingdom (Douglas) to the Secretary of State
2192. 1. Embassy agrees that if Britain should attempt prevent consummation Schuman Plan by six countries (last sentence paragraph 1 Deptel to Paris 1757, October 5 repeated London 1784, Torquay 35), every effort should be made to deter them from so doing. Embassy has previously reported official British statements endorsing Schuman initiative, including one by Attlee, and assurances given informally [Page 760] by high British officials that no attempt will be made to sabotage French efforts. While recognizing likelihood that individual Britons, including Labor Party officials have informally discussed Schuman proposals with their continental colleagues, Embassy has received no tangible evidence of British efforts to “prevent consummation plan.” In fact recent conversations with British officials indicated thinking now along lines of best means of UK association in some special relationship with Schuman complex.
2. In view strong assurances given by British that no attempt will be made to “sabotage” plan, Embassy convinced that it would be both fruitless and unwise to approach British in manner which would indicate we distrust their assurances.
Sent Department 2192 repeated info Paris 629, Torquay 36.