850.20/9–1351: Despatch

No. 237
The Agricultural Attaché in the Embassy in France (Herrmann) to the Department of State

restricted
No. 722

Subject:

  • European Agricultural “Pool”—A Status Report

This Despatch, based largely upon conversations with M. Pierre Pflimlin, Minister of Commerce and External Economic Relations, and M. Paul Antier, Minister of Agriculture in the new French Government, brings up to date available information on developments with respect to the French proposals for the integration of European agricultural production and marketing. The conversations with the two Ministers, which were undertaken as a result of inquiries from Washington, were participated in jointly by Agricultural officers of the OSR, the ECA Mission to France, and the Embassy. These and other contacts were made in an effort to determine, in particular, whether the recent change in government may have affected materially (1) the thinking within the French Government with respect to the “pooling” of European agriculture; (2) the interest of M.Pflimlin in the proposals for integration, since his change from Minister of Agriculture to his present post; (3) the interest of the new Minister of Agriculture, M. Antier, in the proposals; and (4) further reactions of other European countries to the invitation (Embassy Despatches No. 2850 of April 4,1 and No. 57 of July 9, 19512) to participate in meetings at an undetermined date to consider integration, especially indications by such countries (as well as France) as to preference with respect to sponsoring organization.

Minister Pflimlin pointed out that the present French Government has no “official” position with respect to the “pooling” of European agriculture, but that he interpreted the action of the Vice Premier placing him in charge of activities concerned with integration of European agriculture as indicating no change in the thinking within official French circles. He stated that he is now interested in taking the leadership in getting together representatives [Page 422] from the European nations for the purpose of developing “a plan”. M. Pflimlin stated that the so-called “Pflimlin Plan” had been developed as a point of departure and for discussion purposes.

Minister Antier stated that in his actions with respect to the “pool” he would be concerned primarily with the interests of agriculture. Minister Antier, who is looking to Minister Pflimlin for leadership in this field, told the officers that he favors the integration of European agriculture, but did not elaborate except to indicate that he would look to French agricultural organizations, which are known to be favorable to the principle of agricultural integration in Europe, for counsel on the subject. The recent resolution adopted by the EER committee of the IFAP in Amsterdam during the week of 3 September is further indication of the attitude of European farm organizations toward the integration of European agriculture.

Minister Pflimlin stated that 16 countries and FAO were invited to the meeting. Of these, 11 countries (United Kingdom, Italy, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Switzerland, Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg, Austria and Greece) had answered the invitation officially. All were favorable to the meeting (Norway as an observer, only). No replies have been received from Germany, Portugal, Turkey, Ireland, and Iceland. M. Pflimlin stated that he knew unofficially, that the Minister of Agriculture of the German Federal Republic favored the meeting but for some reason had not replied to the invitation. According to the Minister, Denmark, Sweden, Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Austria and Greece made no reference to OEEC as a sponsoring organization. The U.K. and Italy favored OEEC sponsorship. Minister Pflimlin stated that he hoped the United Kingdom would participate, but in case they did not, the other interested countries should proceed with the plans for integration. Switzerland wished to take into consideration work done by the OEEC, but desired freedom of operation for the delegates otherwise, in so far as that organization is concerned. Norway was sympathetic toward OEEC sponsorship. This tabulation of reactions with respect to OEEC sponsorship is in considerable variance with that obtained from another high French government source and reported in Embassy Despatch No. 57 under date of July 9, 1951.

The French, as reported in earlier despatches, are strongly opposed to a meeting being held under OEEC sponsorship; they believe this leadership would mean certain failure. OEEC has agreed to provide space, secretariat, records and technical and committee help as requested. FAO has accepted the invitation and is willing to send observers, to assist the secretariat and provide technical assistance. Minister Pflimlin appeared to appreciate the offers of [Page 423] OEEC and FAO. He thought that the forthcoming meeting should capitalize on the work previously done by these and other agencies.

Minister Pflimlin, who is expected to be a key figure in any action looking toward integration of European agriculture, stated that he will proceed with plans for bringing together European representatives for this purpose. However no date has been set for the meeting. Other French sources report that the meeting may not be convened until after the ratification of the Schuman Plan Treaty by the French parliament.

This despatch was prepared jointly by the agricultural officers of the three agencies indicated above.

Omer W. Herrmann
  1. Not printed; it informed the Department of State that the French Government had issued invitations on Mar. 29 to member countries of the Council of Europe and to Switzerland, Austria, and Portugal, proposing a conference to discuss French proposals concerning European agricultural integration. (850.20/4–451)
  2. Not printed; it summarized the responses sent to the French Government by the countries invited to the conference on European agricultural integration. (850.20/7–951)