740.5/11–1653: Telegram
The United States High Commissioner for Germany (Conant) to the Department of State
1687. For the Secretary. General Gruenther and I called on Chancellor today in course of former’s first official visit to Bonn. Hallstein, Blank, Heusinger, Speidel were also present for conversation, which continued during lunch between Chancellor and General Gruenther.
Prior to call on Chancellor, Speidel had expressed to General Gruenther German disappointment at lack of progress in Franco-German talks on Saar, saying that Germans felt French had completely backed away from Europeanization, and were concerned only with settlement which would provide facade for continued French economic hegemony in Saar. When this point was raised with Chancellor, however, he said he had been very discouraged last week at lack of prospects for success, but that he felt more optimistic since receiving a message from Bidault last Saturday which to him indicated that the way was still open for agreement. He added, however, that time might come when US intervention would be required to bring about full Franco-German agreement.
On other hand, fact that Adenauer still has some doubts re success of Saar talks and subsequent EDC ratification was evidenced by his tentative question to General Gruenther re a possible US–UK–German agreement in the absence of French action to move forward on European defense. General Gruenther had previously taken occasion to remark that close Franco-German relations were essential feature of European defense, and to Chancellor’s question he replied that from military viewpoint it was impossible to leave France out of any European arrangements. Chancellor then commented that he meant such an agreement to be more in nature of a political, or psychological stimulus for West. General Gruenther remarked that he could not, of course, pass judgment on the political question involved, but that [Page 841] such a move ought to be carefully considered, as it might well backfire. He reiterated that, militarily, France was essential to defense of Europe.
At one stage, Chancellor asked General Gruenther re hydrogen bomb effectiveness, saying McCloy, when he was here, had told him alarming story re possibility of the Russians killing 16 million Americans in surprise attack and making it impossible for US to retaliate. He said he had discussed these figures in general terms with his nuclear expert, Dr. Hahn, who believed they were impossible.
Obviously much disturbed at story, he asked General Gruenther for his opinion. General Gruenther stated that in his opinion such stories were gross exaggeration. US military had reviewed situation and he had talked with Admiral Radford only recently. He felt he could say that military opinion was no such figures were to be credited. Chancellor seemed much relieved.