Editorial Note
On December 11, Acheson discussed with President Truman “the difficulties arising in the path of ratification of the EDC Treaty, the rumors which were being spread in Germany about the views of the new Administration, and that I thought that we should get in touch with Mr. Dulles to advise with him as to what, if anything, he or General Eisenhower might wish to do”. The President “approved of any such action that we might wish to pursue”. (Secretary’s Memoranda of Conversation, lot 65 D 238, “Memcons w/Pres–1952”) The Truman Administration had already established close liaison with President-elect Eisenhower and his entourage following the national elections of November 4, and Eisenhower had been invited to the White House on November 18, 1952 for a briefing by both Truman and Acheson where the European Defense Community was a topic of conversation. For the memorandum of the November 18, 1952 White House meeting, see volume I.
In telegram 3474 from Paris, December 14, Acheson, Dunn, and Perkins reported their belief that an early statement by Eisenhower would “be most important in reversing current unfavorable trend [Page 701] with respect EDC ratification in both Ger and Fr. Believe informal comment by him at press conference immed fol close of NAC wld be appropriate” in light of the expected NAC resolution urging ratification of the EDC and the NATO protocol. Acheson, Dunn, and Perkins suggested that the proposed Eisenhower statement might cover a number of points including the following: (1) that the EDC represented a bold initiative by free Europeans to solve both historic and current problems, and (2) that the coming into effect of the EDC and the German contractual relations “represents only visible means of Ger regaining status of free, respected and equal partner in free world, of playing its part in common Western def and of inaugurating new era of Franco-Ger cooperation” (740.5/12–1452). At the Secretary’s daily meeting on December 15, presided over by Acting Secretary Bruce, it was agreed that such a proposed statement ought to be made and that GER and EUR ought to collaborate on a draft, and that all pertinent cables on the subject should be collected and given to Bruce “so that he could show them to Mr. Dulles.” (Secretary of State’s Daily Meetings, lot 58 D 609, “1952”) Later that same day Bonbright submitted a draft of a possible statement by the President-elect to Bruce (740.5/12–1552). On December 18, Paul H. Nitze submitted the views of the Policy Planning Staff which chiefly objected to such a statement on the grounds that it might “appear to gage the fate of Europe on EDC, precisely as defined in the treaty, or which would handicap the new Administration in living with some other form of European military organization embodying EDC essentials.” Nitze then submitted a much shorter declaration to be made by the President-elect “or, preferably, by Mr. Dulles after consultation with the General” (740.5/12–1852). The same day, Bonbright submitted to Bruce a 12-page background paper on various aspects of the European Defense Community together with drafts of two statements, one a formal comment, the other a statement “pegged on a planted press question,” dealing with imperative need for early ratification of the EDC. (Memorandum by McWilliams, December 18, 740.5/12–1852)
Upon his return from Paris, Acheson immediately contacted Dulles to report on the trip, and five days later, on December 24, Dulles came to the Department for further talks with Acheson and others. In a memorandum to Truman early in January, Acheson stated that Dulles had been given an office in the Department and had been encouraged to meet with Department officials to discuss a wide variety of topics including the EDC. At this time, Acheson and others were suggesting to Dulles that he recommend to President Eisenhower the dispatch of a New Year’s message to General Ridgway at Paris that might include a statement strongly endorsing the EDC. Dulles made no firm commitment to these suggestions. For the memorandum of Acheson’s telephone conversation with Dulles on December 19 and the Dulles–Acheson [Page 702] talks of December 24, and Acheson’s memorandum to Truman of January 12, 1953, see volume I.
On January 6, 1953, Eisenhower released a public message he had sent to Chancellor Adenauer which reads as follows: “I would like to thank you for your New Year’s message and to reply to it most heartily. I share your hope that this year will bring a great message of progress in securing world peace. You will probably know about my New Year’s message to General Ridgway in Paris in which I stressed the importance of a growing European unity and the establishment of a European Defense Community. I believe that such a development would contribute much to promote peace and the security of the free world.” (New York Times, January 7, 1953, page 1, column 1)