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

740.5/8–2254: Telegram

The Secretary of State to the United States Observer to the Interim Committee of the European Defense Community (Bruce), at Brussels¹

secret
niact

Washington, August 22, 1954—2:40 p.m.

197. Limit distribution. Reference Embtel 172.²

1. Our disposition generally regarding proposed special conference suggested Deptels 194³ and 195⁴ is to follow lead EDC countries which have ratified, particularly lead of Spaak.

2. Countries may be reassured generally on following:

(a) We concur fully that no steps should be taken toward holding special conference of type proposed until French Assembly has had opportunity to vote on day scheduled next week. Prior to scheduled vote, any public discussion proposed meeting should of course be most carefully avoided. Steps should be taken to call meeting promptly, however, if becomes clear French will fail to vote as scheduled or if vote results in rejection EDC.

(b) We believe that any recommendations of proposed special conference concerning German defense contribution should be referred to emergency NAC meeting.

(c) Benelux, Germans, and Italians can be reassured we are firmly opposed any tripartite US–UK–French consultations prior to steps proposed for special meeting with other EDC countries. London’s 909⁵ to Department (repeated Brussels niact 13) contains encouraging evidence British agree fully with this position.

3. Re problem Italian participation in proposed conference, we note Kirkpatrick’s suggestion to this effect in London’s 909. We see merit in Italian participation, which can be justified on grounds Italian parliament commissions have approved EDC and Italian Government has subscribed to declaration other EDC countries at Brussels. Therefore, if you agree, you may inform Spaak, Italians, and others as appropriate that we would see no objection to Italian presence.⁶

Dulles

1. Drafted by Fessenden; cleared with Merchant and Palmer. Repeated to Paris, London, Rome, The Hague, Bonn, and Luxembourg.
2. Not printed.; it dealt with the question of convoking a consultative meeting between the United Kingdom and the EDC ratifying countries following the Brussels conference and reported that all the delegations at Brussels with whom Bruce had consulted “seem agreed no steps should be taken this direction until French National Assembly has voted end month or else EDC definitely not to be taken up by it” (740.5/8–2254).
3. Not printed; it transmitted Dulles’ message to Spaak, p. 1058.
4. Not printed; it transmitted Dulles’ message to Mendès-France, p. 1059.
5. Supra.
6. In telegram 177 from Brussels, Aug. 22, Sprouse reported that the Brussels conference had ended, and Bruce had departed for Paris prior to receipt of the source text. “As Adenauer was scheduled return to Bonn this evening and other delegations expected to depart either tonight or tomorrow morning, Embassy will convey these assurances only to Spaak and will take no action with respect to representatives of other countries. Pending receipt of further instructions, we will not communicate to Spaak point in paragraph three of reference telegram”. (740.5/8–2254)