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

740.5/3–354: Telegram

The Secretary of State to the Department of State ¹

top secret
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Caracas , March 3, 1954—10 a.m.

Dulte 7. Eyes only Acting Secretary, Merchant, MacArthur from Secretary. Re: Coled 166.²

I raise question of whether we should submit formal note to French Government asking to be promptly advised as to when the government proposes to attempt to secure vote on EDC. Basis would be US being party to German contractuals which in turn dependent upon EDC and that we are now approaching two years since US signed and ratified, and French Government which signed has taken no effective steps to ratify. US cannot allow its own vital relations with others to be subjected to grave jeopardy because of indecision on part of another government. In this connection it could be informally pointed out that US policy during the past two years has been predicated on assumption that French would at least endeavor with reasonable rapidity to honor its signature to Bonn and Paris treaties and thus demonstrate its capacity to be one of the great powers. We have, on this assumption, continued to include France in all of our planning and have insisted on French participation in conferences such as London, Washington and Bermuda with US and UK.

At Berlin the US reluctantly accepted the French position with reference to Indochina conference, on basis of assurances that this would facilitate prompt action on EDC and that EDC would not be enmeshed in Soviet tactics at Geneva, which Molotov made clear would be deliberately calculated to obstruct EDC and commit it “to Archieves.”

The US believes that by its loyal conduct, its patience, its faith in France, it has won the right to get clear answer as to whether and when the French Government proposes to attempt to secure a parliamentary vote on EDC which will at least end the uncertainty and permit the US to make its own plans on the basis of knowledge rather than vague speculation.

In the same connection French Government could be informed of US readiness to give strong pledges in sense which French have always desired.³

Dulles

1. The Secretary was attending the Tenth Inter-American Conference, at Caracas.
2. Dated Mar. 2, p. 882.
3. Source text was received in the Department at 11:38 a.m. At 6:18 p.m. Smith replied in telegram Tedul 23 that “I personally believe there is much merit in your suggestion of a formal note to French on EDC vote. Timing of such a note would of course be important and it might be that it could most effectively be presented in conjunction with our informing Bidault of contents of President’s proposed statement on assurances. In any event I thought we should take no action before receipt of Bidault’s reply to your personal message which we have been expecting daily” (740.5/3–354).