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

396.1 LO/9–2054

Memorandum of Conversation, by the Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for European Affairs (Elbrick)

confidential

[Washington,] September 20, 1954.

Participants:

• Sir Roger Makins, British Ambassador
• Mr. F. J. Leishman, First Secretary, British Embassy
• Livingston T. Merchant, Assistant Secretary, EUR
• C. Burke Elbrick, Deputy Assistant Secretary, EUR

The Ambassador said that he had been instructed by his Foreign Office to extend a formal invitation to the United States to be represented at the forthcoming Nine Power Meeting in London which is to open on September 28. Mr. Merchant said that he would consult the Acting Secretary and give the Ambassador a formal reply as quickly as possible.¹ He said that the Secretary, anticipating the invitation to the meeting, was tentatively planning to arrive in London on Sunday, September 26. The Ambassador said that his Foreign Office would be pleased to hear this.

The Ambassador then handed Mr. Merchant a statement of position reached by Messrs. Eden and Mendes-France in Paris on September 17 and a copy of the final draft of the United Kingdom–United States understanding of the purpose of the Nine Power Conference (copies of both are attached). It was noted that the latter draft now states that the purpose of the Nine Power Conference is “to agree …² upon the measures equally for promotion of European unity and for defence of the free world through expansion of the Brussels Treaty to include German Federal Republic and Italy and of NATO so as to include German Federal Republic.”

The Ambassador then referred to Mendes-France’s reply to the British proposals, saying that the French counter-proposals seemed to differ in emphasis rather than in substance, though they left the question of NATO membership for Germany unanswered. He also mentioned the French memorandum which was communicated to the interested governments on September 18³ and said that he believes this memorandum provides a basis for discussion. It is true that the French appear to desire a Brussels organization solution of the German problem rather than a NATO solution, but Sir Roger believed that there was room for maneuver and that the French position is a first position which is subject to some change in negotiation. He said that the British Government is aware of the need for a rapid solution of this problem and he felt that Mendes-France was also aware of the need for haste. Ambassador Jebb in Paris had reported that Mendes-France was anxious to avoid a repetition of the situation at the Brussels Conference where France constituted a minority of one, and the Ambassador thought this seems encouraging.

In speaking of the conditions laid down in the French proposed solution Mr. Merchant said it would be a mistake to assume that the United States can automatically re-issue the assurances given by the President last April⁴ when an EDC solution was envisaged. Any proposal to repeat these assurances in a new context would require consultation with Congress. The Ambassador said that he understood this and that he hoped the State Department would adopt a favorable attitude toward this particular proposal. Mr. Merchant said that another aspect of the French proposals which would require careful consideration by this Government is that part which suggests channeling all United States end item aid through the Brussels organization.

Mr. Merchant said that we are very interested in the studies which we understand are now proceeding in London regarding the possible revision of the Brussels Pact and that our Embassy in London had been instructed to keep closely in touch with the drafting group. He expressed the hope to the Ambassador that the British Foreign Office would keep our Embassy fully informed of the progress made.

[Annex 1]

Statement of Position Reached by Mr. EDEN and M. Mendes-France in Paris, September 17, 1954

secret

The Foreign Secretary explained that all the Governments he had visited, as well as Her Majesty’s Government themselves, were convinced that the right solution lay in the admission of Germany into NATO simultaneously with her entry into the expanded Treaty of Brussels Organisation, subject to the necessary accompanying arrangements.

M. Mendes-France urged that, if this was to be made acceptable to French public opinion, the accompanying arrangements, so far as possible and practicable, should be organised within the framework of the Treaty of Brussels Organisation, it being understood that the execution of any military arrangements should be carried out by the NATO machine.

For their part Her Majesty’s Government, and as they believe, the other Five Governments concerned, at present prefer that most of the arrangements referred to should be organised directly by the NATO machine. Her Majesty’s Government are, however, prepared to consider how much of the arrangements can in practice be confided to the Treaty of Brussels Organisation and to encourage the other Governments concerned to do likewise.

[Annex 2]

United Kingdom–United States Understanding of the Purpose of the 9-Power Conference

secret

[Washington, September 20, 1954.]

The purpose of the Nine-Power Conference is to agree, with a view to the forthcoming Ministerial meeting of the North Atlantic Council, upon the measures equally for promotion of European unity and for defence of the free world through expansion of the Brussels Treaty to include German Federal Republic and Italy and of NATO so as to include German Federal Republic.

The Conference would discuss how best the accompanying arrangements could be organised within the revised Brussels Treaty and within NATO.

The Governments of the United States, United Kingdom, France and Federal German Republic would also discuss among themselves and inform the Conference of their plans for restoring German sovereignty, which would be an essential pre-requisite to the entry of the Federal German Republic into the Brussels Treaty and into NATO.

1. In circular telegram 149, Sept. 20, the Department of State informed the NATO capitals and Bonn that the United States formally accepted the invitation to attend the Nine-Power meeting in London beginning Sept. 28 (396.1 LO/9–2054).
2. Ellipsis in the source text.
3. The text of the French memorandum under reference is included in circular telegram 148 of Sept. 20, supra.
4. For the text of United States assurances concerning the EDC, issued on Apr. 16, see the Department of State Bulletin, Apr. 26, 1954, pp. 619–620.