740.5/11–2951: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Acting Secretary of State 1
top secret
Rome, November 29, 1951—1 p. m.
Secto 109. Dept pass Defense, Treasury, Executive Office of the President and ECA. All agencies requested restrict internal distribution.
Following was decided re EDC at top-level delegation meeting November 26, including Secretary, Lovett, Snyder, Harriman, Bradley and Gruenther.2 Summary of their position was:
- 1.
- US must know whether or not EDC will be successfully organized.
- 2.
- While we would prefer December 31, as we must know by January 15 deadline.
- 3.
- It is up to Schuman to handle Benelux countries and problem related to their current position.
- 4.
- Indicated if Benelux not satisfied in time, would approve EDF composed of France, Italy, and Germany.
- 5.
- Benelux problem re financial aspects is EDC problem and not US problem.
- 6.
- US reserves right to withdraw support of EDC if no result by January 15.
Acheson
- This telegram was repeated for information to London for Spofford, to Paris for MacArthur, to Brussels, and to The Hague.↩
- Officers present for the meeting were principal advisers to the Secretary of State for the Eighth Session of the North Atlantic Council in Rome, November 24–28. Regarding the Council session, see the editorial note, p. 1312.↩