662 001/3–2052 Telegram

No. 75
The Chargé in France (Bonsal) to the Department of State 1

secret

5715. I have just had two conversations with Schuman and Eden, one at 6:30 and the other after dinner.2 I was accompanied by Holmes and Laukhuff.

We presented the Dept’s position according to instrs and I especially endeavored to emphasize main lines contained in your message to Schuman.3 He and Eden were firmly insistent, however, on necessity of including in note some mention of (1) status of an interim Ger Govt, (2) freedom which all-Ger Govt must have to join associations of states compatible with UN, (3) frontiers and (4) Ger national forces. I was particularly convinced by Schuman’s strong plea (which had Eden’s support) for reference to freedom to join associations, frontiers and natl army.

It accordingly becomes abundantly clear to me that since these matters are of vital concern to the Brit and Fr natl positions we cannot hope to gain acceptance of our point of view.

Drafting comite is meeting tomorrow morning for consideration of completed new draft which will include foregoing four points, handled so far as possible in line with our three positions. Schuman and Eden have agreed moreover that Sov acceptance of UN commission must have first and absolute priority and they are prepared to make the other points subsidiary.

Bonsal
  1. Repeated to London, Moscow, and Bonn.
  2. Ambassador Dunn’s two conversations with Schuman and Eden took place on Mar. 19.
  3. Supra.