740.00/12–1151: Telegram
The Consul at Strasbourg ( Andrews) to the Acting Secretary of State 1
88. Contel 86, Dec 10.2 Vague and gen tone FonMins speeches failed give impetus to Assembly hoped for in many quarters. UK and Scandinavian position obviously strengthened by Van Zeeland’s advocacy of Comites Mins as proper polit authorities for Eur coal and steel community, EDC and other specialized authorities. In fact, Van Zeeland remarked privately yesterday that he had made his speech as “appeasement” to Brit.
On presumption debate aims and scope Eur policy rapporteur Struye introduced new report on behalf GenAffs comite AS(3)108 (Condesp 168, Dec 10)2 containing three recommendations: (a) appointment by member states of European Affs Mins to meet regularly and frequently in “college” under authority FonMins to provide for “semipermanent consultation with aim of coordinating, in close association Commonwealth countries, external policy of member states”; (b) encouragement by comite Mins of rapid conclusion agreement between member states so disposed to institute a polit authority whose competence limited to def and fon affs “in which joint exercise of sovereignty is rendered nec by organization of Eur army and its use within framework Atlantic Pact” (this recommendation entitled “creation of polit community in spirit of Washington declaration”); (c) convening of European conf early 1952 under auspices CE. Struye explained his comite’s reasons for noninclusion in report of Teitgen–Menthon, Felice, and Jacquet proposals.
Menthon criticized recommendation on Eur army in AS (3)108 as not precise enough. Brit Conserv Amery gave exposé UK attitude as one of unwillingness join federation but with no desire prevent others doing so; made this statement concerning Eur army: “Our conception was that there shld be natl formations merged into a single army under a single command, and that this command, and its civilian counterpart, wld have been responsible to a comite of Mins who, in their turn, wld have been subj to the democratic control of their respective parliaments”; and welcomed proposals for [Page 81] appointment EurAffs Mins and convening Eur conf. French RPF Triboulet gave wholehearted support Felice project,3 stating CE must do something quickly or else look ridiculous in eyes of world. French MRP Teitgen made interjection stating French dels eld further CE cause in their voting on Schuman Plan Dec 11, whereupon Triboulet replied that Assembly wld detect note of natl politics in Teitgen’s remark, adding that specialized authorities no good if not under polit institutions. Ital Bergman and German Becker supported Felice proposal.
In 5 hour night session ending 2:45 a.m. time-worn differences between functionalists and federalists came to fore and speakers reiterated opinions already made known at this and previous sessions Assembly, with scant regard for brevity or for relevance to recommendations under discussion. One of striking features debate was support by many speakers of British functionalist position and opposition to partial Eur federation, generally on ground that fed without UK was inadvisable; speeches in this sense made by Greeks Mercouris and Maccas, Irish Boland, Belg Larock, Dutch Van Naters and Klompe, Turk Ulek and of course Nor Svalen and Knudsen and Danish Boegholm. Speeches favoring partial fed made by French Reynaud and Ital Giacchero; former particularly anti-Brit this time in restating his opinions re original Churchill motions for Eur army as opposed in his mind to present UK position (Contel 68, Nov 28).4 Reynaud also attacked Van Zeeland’s speech alleging it was infused with Brit thesis.
Vote finally taken on Struye report: Recommendation (a) approved 74 ayes, 5 abstentions, and 22 noes, latter including all Brit socialists voting, all Ger socialists voting, 5 Swedish socialists and 2 Nor dels; recommendation (b) approved 60 ayes, 29 abstentions, 10 noes, latter consisting of all 7 Ger socialists voting and 3 Scandinavian dels; and substantive para in recommendation (c) on convening Eur conf disapproved 45 noes, 4 abstentions and 37 ayes. Rejection this para resulted largely from procedural tangle, late hour of night and gen befuddlement but rejection nevertheless stands.
Felice proposal AS(3)110 (Contels 71, Nov 30, and 82, Dec 6)5 disapproved with 45 noes, 13 abstentions, and 41 ayes; Ital del voted overwhelmingly in favor; 7 Ger socialists opposed, remainder del in favor; French del split (Contel 75, Dec 1)6 with RPF in favor and [Page 82] socialists against and other parties divided; Brit Socialists voted against with exception one who abstained while Brit Conserv abstained with exception one voted against; Belg, Neths, Greek, Turk and Scandinavian dels against.
Morning sitting today taken up mainly with Spaak resignation from presidency and repercussions (Contel 89, Dec 11).7 Minor recommendation AS(3)102 establishment a single European jurisdiction voted unanimously with two abstentions. Invitation to Austria become member CE in form request to CM AS(3)107 adopted unanimously. AS(3)101 on number and allocation seats in Assembly adopted without noes and with only 5 abstentions.
Assembly adopted first 14 arts new draft statute AS(3)105. Debate on Teitgen–Menthon amendment to new draft statute provoked heated day-long debate in which Spaak made speech reported Contel 89. In absence Menthon, Teitgen defined his proposal as framework within which specialized authorities cld be formed under aegis CE by two or more states signatory to convention and by which contact with nonparticipating states wld be assured. Teitgen stressed alleged timidity of Assembly as did other speakers and advocated amendment as definite advance altho not audacious and causing no inconvenience to Brit and Scandinavian non federalist opinion. Fel Spaak’s dramatic support of Teitgen emotions ran high in Assembly and in addition UK opposition many federalists attacked amendment on ground it wld prevent Brit acceptance new statute. Benvenuti, ardent Ital fed, flatly declared united Eur cld not be created through CE and that no progress cld be achieved by revision statute. Teitgen in final def amendment endeavored refute different criticisms coming from all shades Assembly opinion and made appeal Brit dels to abstain. Amendment adopted in simple majority vote with 37 ayes, 34 noes, and 6 abstentions, all Brit dels present voting against. New draft statute as amended adopted with nec 2/3 majority: 61 ayes, 2 noes (Nasgard, Wells) and 16 abstentions. Economic comites request that study be made of coordination European econs with those overseas countries AS(3) 104 adopted unanimously. Debate on gen affs comite specialized authorities report AS(3) 103 postponed to next session.
Second half 1951 Consultative Assembly session ended about 6 p.m.
- Repeated to Paris, Brussels, London, Bonn, Rome, Ankara, Athens, Copenhagen, Dublin, The Hague, Luxembourg, Oslo, Reykjavik, Stockholm, Vienna, Ottawa, and Wellington.↩
- Not printed.↩
- Not printed.↩
- In despatch 178 from Strasbourg, December 15, Andrews identified the Felice project as a “Motion for a Recommendation for the Establishment of a European Federal Political Authority consisting of the six Schuman Plan countries”. (740.00/12–1551)↩
- Not printed.↩
- Neither printed.↩
- Document 38.↩
- Infra.↩