741.13/12–1951: Telegram
The Ambassador in France (Bruce) to the Secretary of State 1
3663. Emb is transmitting separately text of communiqué issued as result Churchill-Eden visit here.2 Discussions with Brit Amb3 and with La Tournelle of FonOff have developed fol:
Brit Amb states that major topic of discussion was Eur army. French recalled that they had never pressed Brit to join EDC but made point that public expression of Brit support wld be of great value. Problem was to “improve upon Morrison” without committing Brit Govt to anything to which it is not already committed. Term “association” was found to meet requirements. Brit suggestion that communiqué include statement “French accept Brit point of view” re Brit position was finally dropped.
Churchill personally made clear that he did not favor or understand proposed integrated def community and that his idea of a Eur army had always been a coalition force to which each nation wld contribute a number of divisions from its national forces. He said that militarily this continued to make sense to him but that he wld not speak against Eur army and in fact wld emphasize Brit [Page 994] association with whatever arrangement continent is able to develop. He envisages that this association will involve relationship between Brit forces in NATO on one hand and EDC forces on other similar to that prevailing between present UK, US, French and other NATO forces under SACEUR.
Brit Amb states that Eisenhower expressed himself to Churchill as very favorably impressed by communiqué and stated he did not wish Brit to be incorporated in EDC.
Both Brit and French conferees agreed as to need for three-power staff talks on Far Eastern sitn and Churchill will undoubtedly urge these in Washington next month. Concern was expressed by French re aftermath of Korean armistice, if one occurs. Both parties to conversations agreed as to importance of safeguarding present Far Eastern positions, particularly Indochina as key to Burma, Malaya, etc. There was some vague talk about possible negots which wld lead to Chinese neutrality in SEA, but nothing was defined. Brit Amb states French conferees reported De Lattre as being seriously ill and perhaps subj to operation for bone disease. (This is counter to our own recent info which indicates that, while De Lattre is tired from emotional and physical strains of past year, he is fairly fit and plans to return to Indochina within a few weeks.)
According to Amb, Brit stated that conditions in Middle East shld become increasingly object of tripartite concern and that contributions, particularly milit, of other members wld undoubtedly be required to maintain position there and share burden equitably.
La Tournelle, who did not participate in conversations, stated that they were generally inconclusive, altho public effect was good and what French desired. He said that original Brit thought had been that these conversations might develop a fresh tripartite approach leading to new contacts with USSR (perhaps spearheaded by Churchill), but that this idea had now been abandoned by Brit and that thus Brit had only talked in generalities and wld probably do likewise in Washington.
La Tournelle confirmed agreement on desirability staff talks on SEA and fact that Churchill will approach us on this in Washington next month. He confirmed that subj of Middle East had been touched upon and added that possibility of tripartite mil conversations at Malta had been envisaged. So far as Eur army was concerned, La Tournelle added nothing to communiqué. He stated that it was FonOff impression, confirmed by Massigli, that Churchill had aged very considerably in recent weeks and that he will not remain in office very long. La Tournelle expressed doubt that Eden wld be his successor. La Tournelle reported animated after dinner conversation between Reynaud and Churchill re latter’s Council of [Page 995] Europe role with Churchill defending himself vigorously against charges of inconsistency.