Foreign Relations of the United States, 1952–1954, Germany and Austria, Volume VII, Part 2

762.022/3–954: Telegram

No. 667
The Ambassador in France (Dillon) to the Department of State¹

secret
priority

Paris, March 9, 1954—6 p.m.

3277. Maurice Schumann this afternoon handed me the text of the French proposal on the Saar, which is mentioned in the last paragraph of the Adenauer–Bidault communiqué,² and which he stated is to be considered equally with the Van Der Goes solution as a basis for future negotiations. (Text follows in succeeding telegrams.³)

He said French Government had decided that time had arrived to reach a solution, that diplomatic maneuvering was no longer in order and that therefore they had drawn up this proposal putting all their cards on table, and unilaterally granting a number of major concessions. Schumann said that while this proposal was naturally open to negotiation it would be impossible to make any large changes of substance in it as he and Bidault felt that this proposal represented maximum that could be approved in French Parliament.

He particularly emphasized two major concessions. One states that final agreement on Saar will be drawn up by a Franco-German conference which will be aided by experts designated by Saar Government, but in which Saar Government will not have an equal voice.

The second concession is French agreement to allow complete freedom during referendum in the Saar. In other words, all parties, including former German parties will be allowed to be fully active during referendum, as well as during election which will follow referendum.

Schumann said that main concession that they were demanding of Germany was that Saar be Europeanized immediately instead of waiting for creation of European Political Community at some uncertain date in future.

During Adenauer’s and Hallstein’s absence negotiations will continue with Blankenhorn either in Paris or Bonn.

Schumann said he had also given a copy of this proposal to British Ambassador.

Dillon

1. Repeated to Bonn and London.
2. On Mar. 1 Adenauer had asked Bidault to meet him for discussion of the Saar before he departed for Greece and Turkey on Mar. 15. (Coled 165 from Paris, Mar. 2, 762.022/3–254) The following day Conant reported that a meeting had been arranged for Mar. 9 with a preliminary meeting of Hallstein, Blankenhorn, and Schumann scheduled for the weekend preceding Mar. 9. (Telegram 2726 from Bonn, Mar. 3, 762.022/3–354)
3. Telegram 3278, Mar. 9, transmitted French and English texts of a 12-point draft protocol of a Franco-German agreement on the Saar. (762.022/3–954) Another copy of the draft protocol was transmitted to the Department of State on Mar. 10 by de Juniac during a conversation with Merchant in which the Adenauer–Bidault talk was further discussed. (762.022/3–1054)