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—8 p.m.

157. Limit distribution strictly. From Tomlinson. Following are highlights of this morning’s session checked with number of sources:

1. Nearly entire morning taken up with rather confused discussion of French proposal. Beginning with title I, Ministers were only able to reach numbered paragraph 3 before futility of continuing became evident and Spaak presented his draft declaration for discussion.²

2. On paragraph one of title I, Mendes prodded by Bourges-Maunoury finally agreed to accept declaration on this point instead of including it in protocol. On paragraph two, Dutch led long exchange attacking inclusion of “subordinate commands” which they and others maintained violated treaty. Mendes said this had been put in to satisfy Marshal Juin. No agreement reached. On paragraph three, Mendes insisted that EDC institutions had to be near NATO and he had to specify Paris to satisfy psychological problem in France. When asked whether this did not upset one of keystones to Saar agreement, he replied that he was not bound by proposals on this question made by previous French Governments. Adenauer then appealed to Mendes to carry out European Saar settlement as only chance for solution. Mendes’ only answer was that CSC institutions could be moved to Saar, to which Bech replied that Luxembourg would not approve such a suggestion. Question was postponed.

3. Spaak pointed out it was now 12:30 and less than 1 page of draft protocol had been covered. He had to suggest new procedure and submit prematurely “ace-in-hole” he had been saving for later. Spaak then presented declaration translated in following cable. See Embtel 128.³

4. Mendes at this point made another scene more violent than those he made at yesterday’s meeting. He accused other Ministers of not wishing to help him. He wished them to realize that his situation was desperate; his government would certainly fall if Brussels conference failed to accept his proposals. He made number of accusations as to Spaak’s intentions.

5. Spaak finally intervened to say if Mendes did not find first page of his declaration helpful he would withdraw it. Spaak immediately asked for copies back but Piccioni first wished Ministers to read it. First pages were then returned. Spaak then explained purpose of his proposed declaration, emphasizing that he felt himself limited only by need to avoid new action in parliaments. He reminded Mendes that his own party in Belgium had put him formally on notice that Belgium Government would be brought down if he agreed on anything reducing supranational aspects of EDC treaty or if he tried to come back before parliament on EDC before ratifications were completed.

6. Beyen asked Mendes to consider Spaak’s proposed declaration in confidence that other EDC nations wished to go to their limit in helping him. He suggested that attitude with less show of temper and pathos would help discussions. Mendes replied that situation before France and his great efforts to solve it justified some pathos.

7. Adenauer reminded Mendes that situation was not only serious for France; it was desperate for all Western nations and particularly Germany. He then made appeal in almost sentimental terms that Mendes not in effect force Western Germany to create a German national army, reminding Mendes of how easy it would be to submit to increasing pressures in Germany for national solutions and of how ominous such developments might be for Germany, France and other nations. He asked Mendes to listen to him and to realize that declaration proposed by Spaak would be a great diplomatic victory for him to present in Paris. Adenauer was certain that Mendes with this six-nation agreement and full support and sympathy of other European nations and US and UK bring to culmination European policy so desperately needed by all nations.

8. Spaak adjourned meeting until 5 O’clock to give Ministers opportunity to study his proposed declaration.

Alger

1. Sent also to Paris for the Ambassador and Bruce eyes only. Repeated to London, Bonn, Rome, The Hague, and Luxembourg.
2. See editorial note, p. 1052.
3. This transmitted the draft declaration for the interpretation and the application of the EDC Treaty approved by the Foreign Ministers of the Federal Republic, Luxembourg, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Italy, but subsequently disapproved by France. See editorial note, p. 1052. A translation of this draft declaration was transmitted to the Department in telegram 159 from Brussels, Aug. 20 (740.5/8–2054). The draft was an elaboration of the views and proposals which Spaak and De Staercke had conveyed to Bruce and Tomlinson as reported in telegram 128 from Brussels, Aug. 18, p. 1047.