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

740.5/8–1051

Memorandum of Conversation, by the Acting Assistant Secretary of State for European Affairs (Bonbright)

secret

[Washington,] August 10, 1951.

Subject: Forthcoming Ministerial Talks

Participants:	Mr. van Laethem, French Embassy
	Mr. Bonbright, Acting Assistant Secretary

Since the French Chargé, Mr. Daridan, was tied up, he sent Mr. van Laethem of the Embassy staff to see me this afternoon. I handed him copies of the following informal papers.

1. Suggested timetable for bilateral and tripartite talks with Mr. Morrison and M. Schuman. (Copy attached)

2. Proposed topics for tripartite discussion. (See memo of conversation with Mr. Steel of today’s date.¹

In explanation of the first paper I said that the Secretary was very gratified to learn that M. Schuman could come to Washington for the tripartite talks beginning September 12. We understood, however, that he had not yet reached a decision on the question of attending the San Francisco conference.

With regard to the tripartite list I told him orally that we might wish to discuss considerations involved in accomplishing the MTDP, although we did not wish at this time to place the subject definitely on the agenda.

I then said to Mr van Laethem that we had not attempted to draw up an agenda for the bilateral talks between Mr. Acheson and M. Schuman, but that as far as we were concerned the only broad questions we wished to discuss were those involving Germany and Indo-China. I said that we would welcome an indication of M. Schuman’s wishes with regard to the bilateral talks as well as his comments on the proposed tripartite list. With regard to Indo-China, I referred to the fact that General de Lattre would be coming here shortly after the middle of September and wondered whether the French would want questions about Indo-China to be taken up with him or whether there were some topics which M. Schuman would wish to discuss. Mr. van Laethem expressed the view that they would probably want General de Lattre to stick pretty closely to military problems and that M. Schuman would probably wish to discuss political problems himself.

Mr. van Laethem had no particular comment regarding the papers I gave him except with respect to Item 9 on the tripartite list. He said that he had had quite a lot to do with this particular problem in the past and recognized that there were considerable difficulties in the way of synchronizing tripartite positions. He did feel it would be useful for our three governments to exchange information on the methods employed by satellite governments in terrorizing and extracting confessions from our citizens who fall in their hands.

He went on to say that he would pass the papers on and would let us know as soon as he received any word from Paris.

J[ames] C. H. B[onbright]

[Attachment]

Suggested Timetable for Bilateral and Tripartite Talks With Mr. Morrison and Mr. Schuman

secret

[Washington, August 10, 1951.]

Depending on how M. Schuman’s plans develop, it is hoped he will reach Washington in time for a bilateral US-French discussion on Tuesday afternoon, September 11. If this proves possible we would plan on at least four tripartite sessions, Wednesday and Thursday morning and afternoon, September 12 and 13. Friday morning would be left open, with departure of all principals for Ottawa Friday afternoon or evening. In the event that M. Schuman does not reach Washington until late September 11, Mr. Acheson would like to meet alone with M. Schuman Wednesday morning, with tripartite meetings beginning that afternoon and probably running through Friday morning.

1. The memorandum under reference here is printed supra; the list of topics is attachment 2 thereto.