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

762.022/3–1054: Telegram

No. 668
The United States Representative to the European Coal and Steel Community (Bruce) to the Department of State¹

secret

Paris, March 10, 1954—4 p.m.

Coled 175. According to Federal Republic officials, Saar conversations over weekend were on following lines:

1. Adenauer and Bidault did not discuss in any detail terms of Saar settlement, particularly economic aspect of question. In prior conversation between Maurice Schumann and Hallstein, Hallstein outlined orally German difficulties with Council of Europe report² along lines of immediately following cable.³ Schumann commented adversely on several points and disclosed very little of French position, saying he would probably send Hallstein a proposal in advance of Adenauer–Bidault conversation. On Monday at 5 p.m. Germans received proposal forwarded in Embtel 3278.⁴

2. Adenauer and Bidault apparently did not engage in any real negotiation. Only agreement of substance was acceptance general principles Council of Europe report as basis for discussion as set out in communiqué. Adenauer did not agree that French paper would be basis for discussion, but, on Bidault’s insistence, he did not object to Bidault’s commenting publicly that French Government wished French proposal to be discussed equally.

3. Present status of talks seems to be that French claim they cannot accept principles of Council of Europe as terms of settlement unless it is changed in accordance with French proposal and Germans insist Adenauer, by accepting broad lines of Council of Europe report, already may have made too many concessions to obtain approval in Germany. Germans say Blankenhorn and Francois-Poncet will meet early next week in Bonn to continue discussions.

4. Bidault took no firm commitment to Adenauer on date EDC debate. He did however talk about holding it in “early April.” On questions direct election of European common assembly (Coled 173⁵) Bidault told Chancellor that Pinay was reluctant to accept Mollet’s proposal.⁶ Bidault added he hoped to persuade Mollet to be satisfied with promise of action soon after ratification.

Bruce

1. Repeated to London and Bonn.
2. Regarding van der Goes van Naters’ report, see Document 640.
3. Coled 176 from Paris, Mar. 10 (762.022/3–1054), transmitted the text of the six-point German statement.
4. See footnote 3, supra.
5. Coled 173 reported a discussion on the ratification prospects of the EDC in France. (740.5/3–854)
6. Antoine Pinay, Independent Republican and former French Minister for Economic Affairs, and Guy Mollet, French Socialist and President of the Consultative Assembly of the Council of Europe.