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

740.5/8–2054: Telegram

The Ambassador in Belgium (Alger) to the Department of State ¹

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Brussels, August 20, 1954—6 p.m.

154. From Tomlinson. Limit distribution strictly. According to De Staercke, Spaak and Mendes-France had sharp exchange after this morning’s session. Mendes said conference would have to fail unless other countries agreed their Parliaments should take some new action. Spaak said that if France insisted on this, five countries would issue common declaration. Mendes angrily said it was unthinkable that other western European nations emphasize divergence by isolating France in such a manner.

Alger

1. Sent also to Paris for Bruce and the Ambassador eyes only. Repeated to London, Bonn, Rome, The Hague, and Luxembourg.