740.5/6–1854: Telegram
No. 242
The Secretary of
State to the Office of the United
States High Commissioner for Germany, at
Bonn1
3587. Limited distribution. Paris pass to Bruce. Discussions began yesterday with Leishman of British Embassy on exploratory and ad referendum basis re plans for Germany in case further delay French ratification EDC. Explained that Department’s object was to make sufficient progress on political side to hold situation for Adenauer, while gaining few more months to work on solution rearmament problem. Department’s view any action taken should be such as to facilitate rather than foreclose ratification EDC, hence no intention going into alternatives this time.
Leishman said that British approach had been directed first to question alternatives in event EDC not ratified and then of interim [Page 573] political action in Germany to save Chancellor’s position while military problem being solved. Re alternatives Churchill and Foreign Office favored German membership in NATO with possible readjustment in SHAPE to improve technical military controls on non-discriminatory basis. Some consideration being given to expedient involving expansion German border police by unilateral action US and UK within framework preparation for future EDC contribution. Consideration also being given to looser EDC in form of confederation which UK might join, but this third alternative highly tentative.
Foreign Office agrees solution military question may take time, while political situation in Germany requires early action. Their analysis current situation Germany similar to ours. They have considered two means accomplishing political objective. Preferred course would be simple one-sentence treaty or protocol placing Contractuals in effect without regard EDC Treaty. Second course would be for HICOM to abrogate occupation status and controls by own action under instructions from governments, but without renouncing powers in fields to be covered by Contractuals. Their tentative suggestion would be, if we agreed and Adenauer had no objection, to put first course to French and then, if this refused, urge French to join in instructing HICOM to proceed abrogate occupation status. If this also refused, US and UK should issue declaration that they would by majority action eliminate as much of occupation status as possible while guarding any of rights covered by Contractuals (as UK puts it) or in order place substance Contractual relations into operation between ourselves and Germans (as we put it). British hope such gradual procedure might induce French ultimately accept these measures.
Foreign Office has also been considering steps to expand German border police in order hasten French decision EDC. Such steps would be in preparation EDC, not as substitution for it.
British views not yet firm but likewise on informational and ad referendum basis. Further instructions hoped for next week.
- Drafted by Auchincloss and cleared by Lyon, Merchant, BNA, and WE. Repeated to London and Paris.↩