740.5/8–2754: Telegram
The Ambassador in France (Dillon) to the Department of State 1
confidential
priority
priority
Paris, August 27,
1954—11 p.m.
832. EDC developments this afternoon and evening.
- 1.
- Cabinet has decided not to oppose motion adjourning debate until September 15 and calling upon government to resume negotiations re modification or interpretation of treaty. Communiqué issued after Council of Ministers was vague and spoke only of Cabinet unanimity and willingness to “associate itself wholeheartedly with [Page 1084] anything that would allow conciliation” between proponents and opponents of treaty. However, Cabinet meeting preceding decision was quite dramatic.
- 2.
- Strategy meeting of pro-EDC elements in Assembly had disclosed their growing cohesion and determination to block any alternative policy which Mendes might propose. Group led by Schuman, Rene Mayer, Pinay and Reynaud had decided to introduce motion for adjournment of debate and resumption of negotiations in the light of Spaak proposals and London Tementi of UK support for alternatives.
- 3.
- Assembly sources agree that Mendes would probably have been able to defeat such motion if, as he originally contemplated, he put question of confidence against it. However, he would only have succeeded by accepting Communist support which in this case would have been decisive in allowing him to stay in office. This would have resulted in additional doubts about his long-range intentions and would have greatly decreased his prestige and action potential.
- 4.
- Most important, three pro-EDC Ministers led by Bourges-Maunoury offered their resignations at beginning of meeting and persisted in decision despite all of Mendes persuasive powers. According to Ulver (Social Republican Cabinet member) whom we consulted this evening, radical Berthoin brought Ministers back after meeting had already been terminated and got them to agree on formula that appears to save Mendes’ face because it does not disavow his Brussels’ negotiating position.
- 5.
- What Cabinet seems to have agreed upon, although information is not yet completely clear, is that it would not oppose adjournment motion provided it instructed government to resume negotiations “on basis of proposals Mendes put forward at Brussels”. Since he is expected to negotiate, there is clear implication however that this time he would not cling intransigently to that position. Much now depends upon actual wording of motion.
- 6.
- Assembly pro-EDC leaders met later tonight with the three pro-EDC Ministers (Bourges, [Claudius]-Petit and Hugues) and appear to have agreed on simple text of motion which would not spell out Spaak proposals, Pinay formula2 and other elements of compromise by which Premier is supposed to be guided. However, it seems clear that critical battle may occur over wording of motion.
- 7.
- Cabinet has made no decision re confidence question but if it is possible Mendes may seek to put it against any language implying outright disavowal of his Brussels’ position. On other hand Ulver told us anti-EDC Cabinet members will quit if Mendes compromises on his original demands re French right to withdraw from EDC and suspension of supra-national feature for long period. Battle is likely to commence Sunday.
- 8.
- Situation is thus considerably improved over yesterday but now that Mendes has decided to roll with the punch everything depends upon whether he will seek to divide pro-EDC forces by seeking rigid instructions re his negotiating position or whether he will make sincere attempt to compromise even at expense of losing several anti-EDC Cabinet members. On this crucial question no recent evidence is yet available.
Dillon