Foreign Relations of the United States, 1952–1954, Western European Security, Volume V, Part 2

CFM files, lot M 88, box 165, “Washington Talks, July 1953”

Draft Tripartite Declaration on European Unity Prepared in the Department of State¹

top secret

[Washington, July 9, 1953.]

1. The Foreign Minister of France, Mr. Georges Bidault, the Acting Foreign Secretary of the United Kingdom, the Marquess of Salisbury, and the Secretary of State of the United States, Mr. John Foster Dulles, in the course of their present consultations at Washington, have reviewed the progress made thus far in NATO and toward European integration.

2. The Three Ministers reaffirmed the determination of their governments to safeguard the freedom, common heritage and civilization of their peoples founded on the principles of democracy, individual liberty and the rule of law. They stressed their governments’ resolve to strengthen and develop further the NATO, which among other things has provided an instrument of collective security which greatly contributed to the maintenance of international peace. Together with the other NATO member nations they will continue to explore and develop new non-military avenues of cooperation leading toward even closer association within the Atlantic Community. They noted with satisfaction the progress made by the North Atlantic Council in providing continuing leadership in furthering an environment of mutual trust and good will in the constant work carried on by the governments in NATO.

3. The Ministers firmly believe that no efforts must be spared in taking these steps which lead toward closer European unity within the framework of the Atlantic Community. The Coal and Steel Community, proposed by France as a first step, is actually operating and removing the many barriers between Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg and the Netherlands, to establish a single market for these basic materials. The Treaty for the European Defense Community, an essential second step toward this goal, has already been approved by the Parliament of the German Federal Republic, and is now before the other five Parliaments. Now in the hands of governments is the Draft Treaty to establish a European Parliament, elected by the people, and an Executive responsible to it. This is designed to provide democratic political institutions to facilitate future extension of the European Community. The Ministers believe that the coming into being of this Community will constitute a great and historic step in history toward peace.

4. In the light of the progress thus far, the Three Ministers agreed on the following statement of policy on European integration:

a. These constructive efforts to build a stable, secure European Community are a major contribution toward world peace. Their success is essential for the security and prosperity of Europe and the world. The European Community will strengthen the Atlantic Community and will in turn draw strength from association with it.

b. The measures to create this European Community are not directed against the Soviet Union or any other power, and constitute no threat to any State. Indeed the vital interests and security of all, including the Soviet Union, will be most truly served by removing sources of discord and friction in Europe. The fullest guarantees that its military forces will never be used for aggression are contained in the democratic controls envisaged for the Community and other safeguards under the Treaty.

c. Since the Community is an answer to long-term needs and interests, a reduction in tensions between the Soviet Union and the West would in no way remove the necessity for carrying it forward expeditiously. The lessening of tensions would, of course, be welcome and would assist the Community in its economic and political development, but it would provide no basis for abandoning or modifying the plans and actions for its creation.

d. The European Community will improve the economic well-being of the peoples of the member states, preserve and strengthen their common culture and harmonize the interests of states whose conflicts, in the past, have brought so much bloodshed and misery. The Community of Six can also serve ultimately as a nucleus for a broader European community ending the existing unnatural division between Eastern and Western Europe. This division has arisen from the inability under present circumstances of the oppressed peoples in Eastern Europe to establish through free elections governments of their own choosing. The present member states have repeatedly stressed that other democratic nations dedicated to peace may become members of the Community or associated with it.

e. For these reasons, the three Ministers found themselves in full agreement that the European Defense Community should come into existence without delay, in the conviction that a strong, integrated Europe will be a source of stability and a major contribution toward peace.

1. The source text was attached as Annex A to a paper in the records of the United States Delegation titled “Draft Communiqué VI”. A cover sheet to the draft communiqué, dated July 9, stated that the source text had been prepared by Knight, and that its substance had been summarized in appropriate sections of the communiqué. The various declarations on European unity were discussed at the third, fourth, and fifth tripartite Foreign Ministers meetings, July 13–14; for the minutes of these meetings, see pp. 1654, 1669, and 1688, respectively.