Foreign Relations of the United States, 1952–1954, Western Europe and Canada, Volume VI, Part 1

850.33/6–1752: Telegram

No. 46
The Ambassador in France (Dunn) to the Department of State¹

secret

Paris, June 17, 1952—6 p.m.

7888. Re para 2 Embtel 7815, June 14.² Subject is Schuman Plan and EDC.

1. We have now confirmed that Schuman will probably propose Strasbourg as temporary seat of Schuman Plan institutions pending debate by appropriate European assembly concerning permanent seat of all European insitutions. This action will serve to obtain support of French Socialists and others who strongly endorse Council of Europe resolution on Eden proposal urging that Schuman Plan countries keep larger view of Europe in mind in determining seat of Schuman Plan institutions. Temporary concentration of institutions in Strasbourg will also make possible holding plenary sessions of Schuman Plan assembly at seat of Council of Europe and facilitate attendance of observers from countries wishing to associate themselves with political community in creation of which Schuman Plan assembly might be employed. Extent to which members of Schuman Plan assembly will be the same as dels from Schuman Plan countries to Council of Europe will depend upon whether each country accepts recommendation that Council of Europe members be designated to serve in Schuman Plan assembly. There will of course be some variation caused by differences in sizes of dels to two bodies.

2. British Govt has made démarche to FonOff stating that they wish to establish a “mission de liaison” with Schuman Plan institutions. British wish to know importance of individuals who will be designated to Schuman Plan institutions before deciding upon level of individual to lead British dels. French have replied that it will not be possible to provide British with this info until after Ministers have made appointments during their June 23 mtg.

Dunn

1. Repeated to London, Bonn, Rome, The Hague, Brussels, and Luxembourg.
2. Not printed; it reported, in paragraph 2, that the Italians were very alarmed by Schuman’s statement to the Italian Ambassador that he would insist that all institutions of the Schuman Plan and the EDC be concentrated in Strasbourg.