740.5/12–2051: Telegram
The Ambassador in France (Bruce) to the Secretary of State
priority
3685. Eyes only from MacArthur, for Secretary Acheson, Secretaries Lovett, Harriman, rptd London for Ambassador Gifford. Fol is résumé of Gen Eisenhower’s and Gen Gruenther’s conversation with Churchill and Eden Dec 18:1
After usual amenities, Churchill opened conversation by discussing EDF. He reviewed briefly his Strasbourg talk in 1950 stating he was in favor of Eur army then and he still is. However EDF now being advocated is not what he had in mind. He said “I want a fagot of staves bound by a ring of steel and not a soft putty affair such as is now contemplated”. He added “UK wld never put troops in such an army nor wld US”. Churchill criticized present EDF concept as inefficient and lacking effectiveness and made it clear that in his view EDF shld have been coalition force (consisting of natl contributions of certain number of divisions including Ger) rather than truly integrated force. He was vague as to how to avoid dangers of Ger natl army. He also complained about huge admin and polit org envisaged in connection with EDC as impractical and going too far. He said however, that even tho he did not think present EDF concept wld be effective enough, he wld not stand in way or hinder it since continental nations seem to want it. (He reiterated on several occasions he wld not hinder or throw cold water on EDF.) He added he favors strong Fr army and believes without this Eur cannot defend itself. Therefore he will do everything he can to help Fr build up their forces. He said Fr are concentrating cream of their army in defense of their “colonial empire” and thus do not have sufficient forces for defense WE. He does not blame Fr for this and wishes UK Govt had taken similar step vis-à-vis its empire.
Thru foregoing conversation Gen Eisenhower pounded Churchill vigorously emphasizing vital importance of UK support for EDF, emphasizing UK prestige in Eur particularly in Benelux and Scandinavia. Gen Eisenhower added: “You can do a great deal in this field because you have great prestige on continent.” Churchill replied, “You must remember we have been in office only eight weeks. Pls give us a chance. The task is more complicated than I ever imagined.”
While foregoing discussions in full swing, draft UK-Fr communiqué on Churchill visit2 was brought in. Eden said they had “rather [Page 975] tough time with Fr this morning” and that “young Schuman was more difficult than older one”. Churchill thought communiqué went too far and suggested that in beginning para “the Brit Govt wld welcome the conclusion of an agreement between those countries participating in the Paris conf”, all be deleted after [garble] sentence as being unnecessary. Gen Eisenhower thought it much better without this deletion. Eden said “I knew you wld think so since it was written chiefly from your point of view”. After further discussion and few minor modifications by Churchill, latter agreed to communiqué unenthusiastically. (Later Eden said privately he had anticipated much difficulty with PM over communiqué and attributed Churchill’s acceptance largely to Gen Eisenhower.)
Eden then commented that UK was somewhat confused over Gen Eisenhower’s exhortation that Eur be unified. Gen Eisenhower replied he had tried to make his own personal views clear in his July 3 London speech. He felt UK shld support EDC project constructively and soft pedal decision not to join; UK shld emphasize its positive support.
[Here follows the portion of the telegram describing the discussion of Indochina, the defense of the British Empire, the British need for steel, the importance of American-British unity, and the last volume of Churchill’s wartime memoirs.]
During conversation Churchill became quite emotional when telling Gen Eisenhower UK will always support SHAPE. Both in this connection and in his talk to SHAPE staff he paid highest possible tributes to Gen Eisenhower’s inspirational leadership and magnificent job he is doing under most trying conditions. He complimented Gen Eisenhower for his public statements showing confidence and said he wld support this stand.
In the talks it appeared on numerous occasions that Churchill did not understand very clearly proposed org of EDF and questioned its effectiveness. He appeared wedded to coalition concept of individual natl contributions of specific number of divisions. Eden on other hand seemed sympathetic to EDF and not too worried about its organizational and effectiveness aspects. He seems convinced UK must give EDF real support. [MacArthur.]