740.5/3–254: Telegram
The United States Observer to the Interim Committee of the European Defense Community (Bruce) to the Department of State
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Coled 166. For the Acting Secretary. I have the impression from talks with Maurice Schumann and others that Bidault and Laniel for different reasons are attempting to evade difficult decision to bring EDC to vote before Easter. This impression is strengthened by Bidault’s initial and perhaps renewed reluctance to talk to Chancellor this week and by repeated references in government circles to “impossibility” of opening debate before mid-April.
If, as I believe, this week is the decisive one for the resolve to move before Geneva, we must be ready to bring maximum desirable pressure on Bidault and especially on Laniel. The next step must await Bidault’s response to the Secretary1 which Schumann said could be expected today or tomorrow. But I think Department should be considering not only a prompt reply to whatever Bidault answers but also a communication in the absence of the Secretary from the President to Laniel tactfully implying that our confidence in his protestations over the past eight months depends on this decision. Such a message might well be followed up by sending MacArthur to see Laniel as latter requested during Berlin conference.
These démarches will be facilitated if we can tell French officially within next day or two that US assurances will be ready by March 12. I am working uncertain basis without having this in hand.
[Page 883]I had lunch with Reynaud today. During it I was called out and informed from reliable source that Bidault was again disposed to avoid meeting Adenauer before latter’s departure for Greece and to have Saar conversations conducted for present through subordinates. Reynaud has undertaken to see Laniel and Bidault on this subject this afternoon and tell them it would be catastrophic to EDC chances of early ratification to follow such course of action. Meanwhile I have sent direct personal appeal to Bidault about this affair.
Also, I told Reynaud of our concern over Laniel’s hesitation to accept principle of European elected assembly as demanded by Mollet in recent Brussels speech. He had talked to Mollet yesterday regarding this, and said he would attack Laniel this afternoon for his attitude which consisted of trying to win 40 extremely doubtful URAS votes by compromises which would certainly cost him at least 80 Socialist votes.
I am seeing Pinay tonight. I cannot overemphasize precarious situation we are in, facing an irresolute government which could infinitely prefer as usual to procrastinate hoping like Mr. Micawber for some outside power to save it from its own irresponsibility.2
- Reference is to Dulles’ message to Bidault, Feb. 23, p. 879.↩
- Source text was received in the Department of State at 1:11 p.m. At 6:45 p.m. telegram Edcol 82 was sent to Paris, stating that careful consideration was being given to the suggestions contained in the second paragraph of the source text and that meanwhile encouraging progress in Washington on the security guarantee issue permitted Bruce to tell the French “we have every hope of being ready with firm decision by Mar. 12. You may use this info in any way you see fit to encourage French to set date for vote and to adhere timetable, including vital Bidault–Adenauer Saar conversations which we know you, Achilles and Conant will continue to urge take place this weekend.” It added that a British suggestion contained in telegram 3722 from London, not printed, regarding further tripartite negotiations in Paris regarding security guarantees “does not appeal to us. Our assurances in final form are expected to go to limit of our capacity and hence not subject to negotiation” (740.5/3–254).↩