Foreign Relations of the United States, 1951, Europe: Political and Economic Developments, Volume IV, Part 1

No. 137

740.5/10–451: Telegram

The Ambassador in Belgium ( Murphy ) to the Secretary of State

secret

Brussels, October 4, 1951—3 p.m.

473. Re mytel 421, Sept 26.¹ Van Zeeland tells me this morning that during course of yesterday’s 5-hour Cabinet meeting there was a thorough discussion of his suggestion that Belg renounce ECA direct aid. He explained that at Ottawa² he had convinced Belg Fin Min and the Def Min of wisdom of such action. His thinking was that it wld have good effect on Amer public opinion and wld also have good effect on “joint def effort.” However, he said he is not able to convince rest of members of govt on this point although they have agreed with everything else he did at Ottawa and San Francisco.³ Their objections stem from purely domestic considerations. In their opinion the Belg public is not prepared for such an announcement and wld misunderstand it. It wld expose govt at this stage to attack by Socialist and Liberal opposition parties who he said are planning a very vigorous campaign against govt with the convening of Parliament in Nov.

Van Zeeland referred to situation prevailing in France and Holland where direct aid had been used to bolster up capital investment situation so that France and Holland disposed now of improvements such as hydroelectric installations, newly equipped steel and other plants, improved coal production facilities and a host of other things which Belg had not been able to achieve because it had not received a similar volume of direct aid. It thus found itself at a disadvantage which Belg opposition parties (Socialist and Liberal) intend to exploit.

Van Zeeland said he hoped that the Secretary wld understand the position. At the time he discussed it with the Secy he felt confident he cld carry rest of govt with him.⁴

Murphy

1. Not printed.
2. At Ottawa, during the Seventh Session of the North Atlantic Council, Van Zeeland informed Acheson and Foster of Belgium’s desire to announce its independence from American economic assistance. The announcement was delayed pending discussions on the wording and coordination of the release in Belgium and the United States. (Telegram Ecato 513 to Brussels, September 21, ECA message files, FRC 53A278, Paris)
3. Van Zeeland was in San Francisco in early September to attend the Japanese Peace Conference. For documentation on the conference, see vol. vi, Part 1, pp. 777 ff.
4. No memorandum of this conversation has been found in Department of State files.