Foreign Relations of the United States, 1952–1954, Western European Security, Volume V, Part 1

740.5/5–1252

Memorandum by the Assistant Secretary of State for European Affairs (Perkins) to the Secretary of State ¹

secret

[Washington,] May 12, 1952.

Although the EDC treaty was initialled Friday, reservations have been placed by the Dutch, Germans and French on certain articles which must be resolved at the forthcoming meeting of EDC ministers.²

I. Dutch reservations:

(a) Recruitment in territories of member states (ex Art 10, Sect. 2): Agreement has been reached by all except Dutch on German proposal to include provision against recruitment in member states. German labor service units are temporary exception to be handled in special agreement in exact language used at Bonn. When queried on reasons for Dutch delegation’s objections, neither Stikker nor Stuyt, Foreign Office EDC expert knew the answer.

(b) Weighted voting in the Council (ex Art 55): Dutch are opposed to inclusion of German support costs in calculation voting strength in Council. Stikker, however, said on May 9 that Dutch cabinet would probably agree to signing of treaty without awaiting settlement of German contribution issue.

(c) Stationing EDC troops outside Europe (ex Art 117): Dutch feel they should have right to specify where Dutch nationals can not be assigned. Stikker, however, has agreed to the validity of the argument that the EDC should not tie its hands in this respect. We have joined the British in pressing the above point but wish to avoid touching Dutch sensitivity to alleged “ganging up” of the major powers.

(d) Duration of the treaty (ex Art 118): Dutch wish to tie EDC treaty to life of NATO and probably will make reservation at time of signing that Netherlands will be bound by EDC as long as UK guarantee is in force but that should the latter be withdrawn then Netherlands would have the right to withdraw from EDC. (The UK guarantee is for as long as “the UK is a party to NAT”.)

II. German reservations:

(a) Vote by which EDC Council will call for joint meeting with NATO Council: The Germans have taken the position that any single country should be able to call such a meeting, while the French insist that the EDC Council be empowered to call joint meetings with NATO only by unanimous agreement. Ex Art 56 is being held up pending resolution of this issue. It has been removed from consideration in ex Art 13.

(b) Subsequent treaties to be entered into by member states (ex Art 113 quinquies): The Germans have proposed that these should be submitted to the Commissariat for approval, but the Dutch and the Belgians consider this proposal too broad.

III. French reservations:

(a) Recruitment and maintenance of national forces required for international missions (ex Art 10, Sect 4): The French fear creation of a German national staff under this provision and may reopen question at ministerial meeting.

(b) Nomination of Officers (ex Art 39): The French military are reported to consider the present provisions impractical and may reopen this question.

IV. Reservations by all:

(a) Common pay scale (new Art. 99)

(b) Definition of prohibited armaments (ex Art. 100, Annex 2)

(c) Seat of institutions (ex Art. 110)

(d) Official language (ex Art. 111)

(e) Auxiliary languages (Mil. Protocol, Chapter V)

George W. Perkins

1. Drafted by Barnard of RA. Copies to Bruce, Matthews, Jessup, Lewis, and Martin of RA. The source text bears the handwritten notation “Sec[retary of State] saw.”
2. Reference is to the meeting of the Conference of Foreign Ministers of the European Defense Community which met at Paris, May 19–21 and reconvened at Strasbourg on May 23. See the editorial note, p. 618.