Foreign Relations of the United States, 1951, European Security and the German Question, Volume III, Part 1

740.5/11–251: Telegram

The Ambassador in France (Bruce) to the Secretary of State ¹

secret

Paris, November 2, 1951—1 p. m.

2602. Subj is Eur Def Forces. In confidential conversation, member Ger del EDC conf told us that at another secret mtg of del chiefs, Belg Amb had renewed in stronger terms line of argument described Embtel 2484, Oct 27² (rptd London 628, Frankfurt 311, Brussels 62) expressing doubt that his govt cld permit him to continue to work on basis of such broad grants of authority to supranational institutions, Belg del took exception to a number of points on which until now conf believed agreement had been reached.

In particular, Belgs reported to object to establishment any form of real common budget or burden-sharing, preferring a “defense fund” composed of contributions volunteered by member states to cover certain common expenditures, with each member continuing to pay and supply its own troops. Belg Amb also seems to have insisted that full responsibility for procurement should remain with national govts and that commissioner shld be required to work through natl govts in the performance of his responsibilities. In short, as our informant put it, “anything which is necessary to create a real Eur Army, the Belgs do not want”.

Fol this mtg, Belg del expected to play relatively passive role in conf and take a general reservation on all past and future conf decisions. (This report was confirmed in gen terms by member of conf secretariat, who added that Belg Govt position against granting sovereignty to supranational bodies because of Belg constitutional question may be extended to Schuman Plan.)

Our informant stated that while members of German delegation to conf continue to support concept of a real Eur def community with all necessary powers, they are having considerable difficulties with various admin in Bonn, who as our informant put it “have not been subj to Paris atmosphere”. Number of Ger officials seem to be taking a position not very different from that of Belg; in particular, they are insisting that commissioner shld be required to work exclusively through natl govts of member states. Some of these officials even seem to favor a system whereby all contacts of European commissioner with natl govts wld be channeled through natl Def Ministers, who wld sit on council and also be responsible for transmitting gen directives of commissioner to the financial, econ, procurement and other agencies of natl govts. Members of Ger del have returned to Bonn this weekend to thrash out these questions, and may have a definite decision before their return Nov 6.

During same conversation, our informant indicated that Ger counter-proposal on initial period (in reply to French proposal described Embtel 2328, Oct 21 rptd London 585, Frankfurt 282³) will be presented to conference next week. He indicated that Gers cld not accept French idea that first echelon of Ger-origin units shld be created and trained by existing Eur and NATO units in Ger, and that for polit reasons they wld like to start putting volunteers in uniform prior to Ger ratification. Proposal appears to involve creation, during period fol signature and before ratification EDC treaty, of some types of defense agencies in Ger under gen supervision of an interim committee representing member states, which wld act as “trustee” for future community. Within this framework, cadres necessary for raising first echelon of Ger forces wld engaged on volunteer basis and given necessary training. Recruiting by compulsory service cld not, however, start until some time after treaty came into effect, as recruiting law and regulations cld not be put through Bundestag until treaty had been ratified. This is confirmed by Speidel’s statement in mil committee. (Section 4 Embtel 2489, Oct 28⁴) that recruiting cld not begin until six or eight months after effective date of treaty because of time required to pass law, issue regulations, set up machinery and take census of men of mil age.

Details of proposed agencies and method of training, paying and equipping first recruits were not clear from discussion, as our informant either did not know or wld not discuss them. However, he indicated that proposal had been discussed with unspecified Americans in Bonn, and had recd certain support.

Bruce

1. This telegram was repeated for information to London, Frankfurt, Brussels, The Hague, Rome, and Luxembourg.
2. Ante, p. 902.
3. Not printed. It reported that the French Delegation to the European Defense Community Conference had shown Embassy representatives a preliminary study on the handling of problems envisaged during the initial period of building up European Defense Forces including the buildup of German forces. (740.5/10–2151)
4. Ante, p. 903.