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

740.5/12–651: Telegram

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

confidential

Paris, December 6, 1951—5 p. m.

3377. Subject is Eur Def Conference. At mtg of conf steering comite yesterday, Alphand extended invitation from Schuman to participating states for mtg of EDC Mins at Strasbourg on 11 and 12 Dec.² Mins wld discuss and attempt settle major outstanding issues, in particular re common budget and common procurement, use of EDC forces and perhaps composition of executive.³ Conf wld continue meeting in meanwhile and Mins wld meet again either before or just after Christmas to discuss rest of outstanding issues.

All dels indicated acceptance of invitation, although one or two wished first to consult govts concerning availability of Mins on dates named.⁴

Bruce

1. This telegram was repeated for information to London, Bonn, Rome, Brussels, The Hague, and Luxembourg.
2. At the meeting of the Eighth Session of the North Atlantic Council in Rome on November 27, the decision was reached for the six fully participating governments in the European Defense Community Conference to hold ministerial-level meetings on EDC problems; see the editorial note, p. 932.
3. Telegram 3396, December 7, from Paris, not printed, reported that a draft agenda for the EDC ministerial conference at Strasbourg was presented by Alphand and approved by the Steering Committee at its meeting on December 6. Items on the agenda were: 1. common budget; 2. armament and supply of Community; 3. composition and use of forces; 4. structure of the commissariat; 5. relative powers of the Commissioner, Council, and Assembly; and 6. method of designation of officers. (740.5/12–751)
4. Telegram 3353, December 5, to Paris, not printed, stated that the Department of State attached the greatest importance, to the NATO decision to transfer EDC negotiations to the ministerial level and counted heavily on the active personal participation and interest of the ministers as a means of reaching an agreed EDC formula prior to January 15, 1952 (740.5/12–951). Telegram 2545, December 6, from Rome, not printed, reported having learned that Italian authorities would attempt in private at the Strasbourg ministerial conference to reconcile at the highest political level the outstanding differences on the constitution of the European Defense Community and would devote particular attention to the Benelux officials (740.5/12–651).