740.5/8–2154: Telegram
The United States Observer to the Interim Committee of the European Defense Community (Bruce) to the Department of State 1
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168. 1. Belgian, German and French sources describe Friday evening session as nearly futile. Meeting lasted until 1 a.m. Discussion centered on Spaak text with Mendes reiterating why his proposals necessary and Belgian draft not satisfactory. He accepted discussion on basis Spaak draft but repeatedly said essentials not there. For this reason reserved right to reject draft if all drafting changes [not] approved.
2. Most heated exchange took place on interpretation of Article 7 of Bonn agreements. Mendes insisted that he must have individual right of withdrawal just as Germans have under Article 7. Chancellor, Hallstein and Spaak insisted that no such right in Article 7. Chancellor said he would refuse to accept right even if offered. Spaak asked Mendes how he could insist on giving Germany this right when he had before him a German Chancellor who refused to accept it. Finally, Spaak proposed compromise language that if situation is or should arise where one party had right to leave EDC, other EDC nations would then have same right. Bourges-Maunoury tried to get Mendes to accept language but he refused. All other delegations accepted.
3. Second item of importance was Article 38. Mendes said it was absolutely impossible to agree to document which mentioned May 4, 1954 communiqué on direct elections. Piccioni disagreed completely. Spaak recalled that under great pressure other EDC countries had accepted communiqué on urgent request from French Government that it was absolutely essential for French Socialists to vote for ratification. We would all look ridiculous, Spaak added, if we withdrew approval and Spaak told Mendes that he would look even more ridiculous because he would lose remaining Socialist votes.
4. Ministers finally gave up and decided to give experts a chance. All this morning and afternoon experts have been meeting to continue discussions. Ministers meeting has been postponed from hour to hour and now scheduled for 8 p.m. We have neither humor, force nor physical stamina to report on work of subcommittees whose number is now swollen to eight.
- Repeated to Paris, London, Rome, The Hague, Bonn, and Luxembourg.↩