No. 51

850.33/3–1651: Telegram

The Liaison and Political Reports Division to the Office of the United States High Commissioner for Germany, at Frankfurt1
confidential

756. From Liaison Bonn. During conversation March 16, Dr. Schumacher termed US support of Schuman Plan part of a Franco-American conspiracy against Ger workers. He said there can be no talk of equality as long as the Ger economy is expected to support the artificially over-expanded Fr steel industry. The SPD leader also again attacked Schuman Plan as unconcealed Fr attempt to gain control of Ger industry. (See Bonn’s tel 419 to Frankfort, rptd Dept 373, Paris 85, Dec 7.2) He said his party was seething over latest results in Schuman plan negots and referred to agrmt to liquidate DKV by 1952 as an act which is bound to result in unemployment, possible unrest and a lower living standard for the miners of the Ruhr. Schumacher stated emphatically that his party wld never approve the Schuman Plan in its present form and that it wld launch a determined campaign against its ratification. This opposition cld well lead to what he called “a new relationship between the occupation powers and Ger labor”. Schumacher concluded his remarks by saying that there eld be no Ger military contribution as long as Allies continue to sponsor such projects of inequality as the Schuman and Pleven Plans.

The SPD leader made similar remarks to Joseph Alsop, US journalist, during interview on Mar 15, further stating that shld communism ever be reborn in Germany, the Americans can take credit for having acted as godfather by sponsoring Schuman Plan.

Liaison Bonn believes that the violence of Schumacher’s opposition to Schuman Plan is at least partially due to his anxiety over somewhat doubtful trade union support of his party’s position. Impression was gained that SPD leader is determined to use all available means to rally labor opposition to Schuman Plan in order to prevent workers from slipping out of SPD’s grasp. [Liaison Bonn.]

McCloy
  1. Repeated to London, Paris, and the Department of State, which is the source text.
  2. Not printed.