840.20/12–2451: Telegram
The Chargé in the Netherlands ( Trimble) to the Secretary of State 1
632. For Agriculture. High official Neth Agric Min states that invitations to discussion meeting on Eur agric integration currently being issued by Pflimlin, former Fr Min Agric, who has sponsored Fr plan for agric integration, and Fr Govt to all OEEC countries. He added Dutch wld prefer that only Schuman Plan participant countries be invited discuss agric integration. Also in such a conference only Belg and West Ger wld be opposed to agric integration with Dutch and Itals strongly in favor and Fr who are divided on question also favorable. Dutch, he said, fear that Fr have invited larger OEEC group in order to allow torpedoing agric integration through attacks of such known opponents of close Eur integration in any field as Brit and Scandinavians.
Dutch hoping natl dels will include reps Ministries of Econ Affairs as well as Agric. If this done Fr, Belgs and even West Ger wld be more receptive to proposal for integration. Dutch expect large conference to accomplish little. In event these discussions deadlocked Dutch planning organize second conference limited Schuman Plan countries.2
- Repeated to Paris for the ECA Special Representative in Europe.↩
- In telegram 3885 from Paris, December 29, Ambassador Bruce reported that a high official in the French Ministry of Commerce had stated that “European countries (Council Eur members, Switzerland, Austria, Portugal)” would receive invitations in early January 1952 extended directly by the French Government rather than through either the Council of Europe or the OEEC to meet in Paris “probably late Feb” to consider European agricultural integration. The preliminary session would be called to establish an agenda and procedures for a plenary session which the French hoped could be convened in April. French Minister of Commerce Pflimlin and Minister of Agriculture Laurens were reported in agreement on this approach to agricultural integration. In conclusion, Bruce stated that Pflimlin and Monnet were conferring that day on the project and that further developments would be reported “soonest.” (840.20/12–2951)↩