740.5/2–152: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Office of the United States High Commissioner for Germany, at Bonn 1
1274. For McCloy. Agree with you mtg of FonMins with Adenauer just prior Lisbon mtg will probably be necessary (urtel 1140 Jan 16, not rptd, and urtel 1215 Jan 21 rptd Paris 374, London 3042). Think such mtg might take place from thirteenth to fifteenth. It shld be devoted to ironing out remaining problems and agreeing final texts of as many agreements as possible. Since final determination of necessity and value such mtg can obviously not be made until further negots have pretty clearly indicated scope of remaining unresolved problems, including financial contribution, security safeguards and [Page 6] any others, suggest you keep this question under informal discussion in HICOM but withhold definite recommendation for ten days or so.
We believe that a second mtg with Adenauer will be necessary at some time subsequent to Lisbon in order to sign agreements. Its date might be in week fol Lisbon or might possibly have to be put off until later depending upon success of pre-Lisbon mtg and on ability of EDC countries to finally agree EDC Treaty. Believe that signing of Ger agreements and signing of EDC Treaty must be coordinated in point of time.
The above course indicates that finally agreed and signed docs on both contractual relations and EDC wld not be ready for Lisbon mtg. This wld not seem particularly undesirable to us as NATO shld not formally approve the contractual relations agreements or even the exact treaty establishing the EDC. We have always considered that NATO action on EDC shld be a general approval of the principles contained in treaty. There now seems hope at least that agreement wld be sufficiently complete by time of Lisbon to allow this affirmative NATO action with attendant publicity that they had approved EDC arrangements. (Wld appreciate Bruce’s comments on this.) If final signing cld take place shortly after this action by NATO, sequence of events wld be logical and perhaps even more appropriate than finalization EDC and contractual arrangements prior to Lisbon.
Agree that first mtg with Adenauer shld not in any event be in Lisbon and wld think it shld be held London Feb thirteenth and fourteenth as Brit have just requested.
Believe considerable thought shld be given to place of possible mtg subsequent to Lisbon at which Ger agreements will be finally and formally signed shld not be any of Allied capitals nor West Ger, to avoid any possible implication of dictate. This signing, combined with simultaneous signing of EDC Treaty, wld be historical event of great significance and shld be surrounded with considerable ceremony. Occurs to us that Strasbourg wld be eminently satis as place. Is ideally located, has facilities, and above all wld tend to associate Ger settlement in public mind with movement for Eur unity and Ger integration in West. Can think of no other city whose assoc with culmination our Ger policy and with creation EDC wld be so advantageous politically and psychologically.
Agree with you we shld not accept Fr view that three ForMins shld discuss problems and give instrs to HICOM except of course on items still tripartitely disagreed. This wld be time-wasting and particularly undesirable in view successful mtg with Adenauer in Nov.
Pls consider foregoing and after discussion your Brit and Fr colleagues wld welcome your further recommendations.
[Page 7]Paris and London may informally advise FonOffs that our thinking at present runs along these lines except in view of tentative nature of matter no mention shld be made as yet of suggestion of Strasbourg as a place for signing the agreements.
FYI, Secy does not wish to commit himself to staying on in Europe after Lisbon, in view of pressing obligations here. If firm sched involving signing agreements within two or three days after Lisbon cld be presented, however, he wld agree to review problem. Otherwise, or if signing is deferred some days, other arrangements must be considered.
- This telegram, repeated for information to Paris (for Bruce) and to London (for Gifford and Spofford), was drafted by Byroade and Laukhuff (GER), cleared by Perkins (EUR) and Matthews (G), and signed by Byroade for the Secretary. A memorandum of Jan. 24 from Barnes (S/S) to Byroade indicates that this telegram was reviewed by Acheson in draft and was slightly amended in accordance with his wishes regarding the specific dates of prospective meetings. (740.5/2–2151)↩
- Neither printed.↩