740.5/12–2651: Telegram
The United States High Commissioner for Germany (McCloy) to the Secretary of State 1
867. I concur with the proposals contained in Deptel 3645 to Paris (rptd Bonn as 771) Dec 21, 1951.2 Expert advice on munition production in Germany reveals that the time lag in establishing facilities for the production of propellants in Germany is such that the Commissioner of European Defense must of necessity allocate production of [Page 1744] propellants to other countries, and that the relatively small number of gun barrels in excess of 105 MM required, wld make tooling up for their production in Germany very expensive and not sound from an economic viewpoint if they can be allocated to other countries for production. Therefore if production of both these items is left to the discretion of Commissioner of European Defense they wld in all probability not be allocated for production in Germany.
As regards the proposals contained in para 2 of Paris 3775 to Dept (rpt Bonn 102), Dec 24, 1951,3 I do not concur, as I believe such an approach will be unsuccessful and a loss of additional valuable time.
In my opinion an approach to Adenauer to seek contractual undertakings in lieu of a declaration will only have chance of success if content calls for elimination all heavy weapons from list and the provision that production of tactical aircraft be left to the discretion of Commissioner of European Defense to allocate as he sees fit. I fully understand the difficulty over tactical aircraft but my thought is that such aircraft wld certainly not be allocated to Germany because it would take too long. We do want them to produce parts for tactical aircraft such as electronics and perhaps some gun mounts. As regards propellants I do not think it practical to exclude those necessary for police and sporting ammunition.
The formula that I consider acceptable to the Chancellor is to have the foil fields excluded entirely from the jurisdiction and authority of the Commissioner of European Defense and left as natl responsibilities: Atomic weapons, chemical and biological weapons, long-range and guided missiles, navy other than coastal defensive craft, military aircraft other than tactical aircraft. The Chancellor wld then give an undertaking to produce in Germany only such munitions as are allocated by the Commissioner of European Defense in the fields under his jurisdiction and wld prohibit by legislation the production in Germany of all munitions in fields not dealt with by the Commissioner of European Defense unless approval for such production was given by the Allies acting for NATO. So far Chancellor has insisted that this undertaking be in form of a declaration.
I shld point out that the above formula is contrary to present Brit position as regards tactical aircraft and is contrary to US position as regards to both tactical and civil aircraft; moreover do not know whether EDC will be willing to exclude the reference fields from authority and jurisdiction of Commissioner of European Defense.
- Repeated to Heidelberg, Paris, and London.↩
- Not printed, but see footnote 6, supra.↩
- Not printed; in it Bruce recommended that he be authorized to tell Schuman that if the direct approach to Adenauer did not succeed, the High Commissioners would make a “forceful attempt to have Adenauer accept Fr position” outlined in telegram 3751, supra. (740.5/12–2451)↩