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

740.5/11–1252

Memorandum of Conversation, by the Director of the Office of Western European Affairs (Byington)

top secret

New York, November 12, 1952.

Subject:

• European Items raised by Mr. Eden in New York

Participants:

• Mr. Eden, Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs
• Mr. Shuckburgh, Private Secretary to Mr. Eden
• The Secretary of State
• Mr. Perkins
• Mr. Jessup
• Mr. Byington

EDC. Mr. Eden referred to the increasingly difficult situation with regard to Franco-German relations. He mentioned his conversations with both Pleven and Schuman at the time of the denunciation of the EDC by Herriot and Daladier¹ and said that the situation with regard to French ratification was precarious. He said that recently Pleven had informed him that the problem of French ratification of the EDC was so great that he had again to urge UK participation. Mr. Eden had done his best to discourage any such idea. He said that this was out of the question for the British Government even under some partial form of participation, as for instance contributing a number of divisions, or, as had once been suggested, the participation of British officers. He had pointed to the enormous loss of time, if the whole subject had to be reopened and rediscussed, and mentioned the alternative the Germans might put forth of German participation in the NATO. Mr. Eden was very concerned over the present drift of the French attitude. They seemed to be weakening in their determination regarding the EDC to such an extent that Pleven had lamented that EDC would leave them alone with the Germans. He (Mr. Eden) had replied that there were 50 million French as well as 50 million Germans; moreover, there were other countries participating in EDC.

The Secretary referred to his recent conversations with M. Bech and M. Van Zeeland and the similar preoccupations of both of these Foreign Ministers. M. Bech had stressed that the whole situation hung on the single thread of two lives—Mr. Schuman and Mr. Adenauer—the former was likely to be thrown out of office at any time after the budget had come up for consideration, and the latter was very old, infirm and facing a national election next year. Mr. Van Zee-land had likewise outlined the difficulties brought about by the rapid resurgence of Germany, but could offer no solution. The Secretary had said to both we would welcome any suggestions they might have.

Mr. Eden mentioned the doubts of the Europeans regarding Italy and their fear of Mr. De Gasperi’s losing his grip in the face of growing neo-fascism.

Mr. Perkins said that he did not believe there was much the U.S. should do now with regard to putting on pressure for hastening parliamentary consideration of EDC. He said that we had done about as much as we could and that additional representations now might make the situtation worse rather than better because of the resentment such pressure would arouse. Mr. Eden recognized this and said he had wanted to help in every way that he could short of British participation in the organization itself. Aside from this, however, we should begin to think about what alternative plan we could fall back on in the event that it should become clear the French would be unable to ratify.

The Saar. Mr. Eden referred to his conversations with Mr. Schuman regarding the Saar. He expressed his regret that Adenauer and Schuman had failed to agree on a joint statement and blame the French Parliament for its insistence on retention of the economic status quo in the face of Adenauer’s very important concession from Germany—namely, acceptance now of the principle of Europeanization. Mr. Acheson referred to the joint U.S.–British proposal for Europeanization of the Saar worked out last July and suggested we might continue our bilateral conversations along those lines. He understood that the U.K. had some suggestions as to the wording. Mr. Eden thanked the Secretary for this suggestion which was one he had been asked to make. It was agreed that both Governments should consult further together.

[Here follows a discussion of the North Atlantic Council meeting on December 15, Trieste, and Egypt.]

1. At the annual congress of the Radical Socialist Party in Bordeaux on Oct. 17, both Herriot and Daladier attacked the EDC Treaty for permitting domination of the proposed Community by Germany in a number of ways. The Daladier and Herriot speeches are summarized in telegrams 2401 and 2404 from Paris, Oct. 18 and 20, respectively (751.001/10–1852,10–2052).