740.5/11–2851: Telegram
The Acting Secretary of State to the Embassy in Italy 1
2467. For Perkins, Bruce, Spofford, and MacArthur. Re: Deptel Rome 2434, rpt Paris 3177, London 2679.2 Neth Emb has furnished us translation report by Chief Neth Del on 2nd part of Ministerial Conf re EDF held Paris Nov 15.3 According Neth report, Schuman summing up results mtg, stated inter alia “that before NAC mtg end of Jan it shld be clear whether EDC cld be achieved or not. At that time it wld be better to acknowledge, if necessary, that an EDC was not feasible than to leave this matter further in suspense”. Neth report ends “all the other Ministers present concurred in Schuman’s statement”.
Neth Emb tends view EDC crisis may be developing due first time realization on part Fon Mins real sovereignty issues involved. Schuman all or nothing statement (double checked translation), while possible mere exasperation with Benelux position, strikes us as serious recognition our position time running out on EDC solution.
- This telegram was repeated for information to Paris and London. It was drafted by John L. Barnard of the Office of European Regional Affairs and was approved by Office Director Edwin M. Martin.↩
- Not printed; it stated that there was an impression in Washington that an important European Defense Community Conference at the ministerial level had been held in Paris prior to the Rome session of the North Atlantic Council, and it asked for information (740.5/11–2651). In telegram Secto 113, November 29, from Rome, not printed, Assistant Secretary Perkins replied he knew of no EDC Conference at the ministerial level other than that held 10 days earlier in Paris and reported upon in the press (740.5/11–2951).↩
- Regarding the meeting under reference here, see also telegram 2883, November 14, from Paris, p. 919.↩