740.5/10–2751: Telegram
The Ambassador in France (Bruce) to the Acting Secretary of State 1
2484. Belg Amb Guillaume called secret mtg of heads of del to EDF conf Thursday evening.2 He apparently indicated that his govt was concerned about recent developments in EDF conf leading to broad grants of polit authority to supra-national org. Belg Cab tended to view that France was pushing European countries into federation through back door. He asked that his comments not be interpreted as Belgium having negative attitude towards federation but only that, if federation was objective, it shld be faced directly. Heads of Ger and French dels were very firm that discussions of EDF conf were within framework of interim report which had been accepted by all dels as a basis for deliberations of conf and that they cld not accept view expressed by Amb Guillaume. We understand that after discussion it was agreed Beg del wld continue in conf on basis of interim report.
Dutch sources indicate that question was discussed by Belg Cab but concern was not nearly as strong as that indicated by Guillaume. It originates in their view with Van Zeeland who claims to be worried about internal polit complications that wld be involved in necessary changes in Belg constitution. Van Zeeland is reported to wish to call an informal mtg of interested ministers in Paris around Nov 5 to consider progress of EDF conf. I have only third hand reports on this subj.
- This telegram was repeated for information to London, Frankfurt, The Hague, Brussels, and Rome.↩
- Telegram 409, October 26, from The Hague, not printed, reported that the Embassy had been informed that the Benelux meeting at Brussels on October 25 was called to organize a united front against the European Defense Force. The Embassy was further informed that the Netherlands cabinet was split regarding the EDF but the Socialist and Catholic deputies in the Netherlands parliament supported the plan. (740.5/10–2651) Telegram 595, October 29, from Brussels, not printed, reported that the Embassy had been informed that the Benelux meeting in Brussels on October 25 had discussed the European Defense Force but no decision had been reached. The Embassy was further informed that Belgian Foreign Minister Van Zeeland appeared to favor the EDF in principle, but the Dutch and Luxembourg officials appeared to be cool to the plan. (740.5/10–2951) See also telegram 419, October 30, from The Hague, p. 905.↩