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

762.022/3–2654

No. 676
Memorandum by the Secretary of State to the President¹

secret

Washington, March 26, 1954.

Subject:

• Proposed US–UK Commitment of Diplomatic Support for a Franco-German Agreement on the Europeanization of the Saar

We hope that Chancellor Adenauer and Foreign Minister Bidault will meet again in the next few days to reach an agreement upon a joint statement of principles for the settlement of the Saar problem. It is expected that their agreement will be based upon the compromise plan drawn up under the leadership of the Netherlander, van Naters, in a Committee of the Council of Europe in which all members are represented. This plan, which is public, includes a provision that the US and UK guarantee the agreed European status of the Saar. The French Government has asked us to express our support for the settlement, once it is reached, so as to have a further assurance that it is definitive and that there will not be further difficulties regarding the return of the Saar to Germany.

I believe that we should support an agreement reached by the Germans and the French in any case, and certainly if our support may be instrumental in bringing such an agreement about. We envisage a statement of support, not a guarantee as this might involve a treaty. We have obtained Foreign Minister Eden’s approval of the attached text and are consulting with the appropriate subcommittees of the House and Senate. The joint US–UK statement would be issued after the issuance of the agreed Franco-German statement of principles on a Saar settlement.

The foregoing is submitted for your information.

John Foster Dulles

[Attachment]

Proposed U.S–U.K Statement²

confidential

[Washington,] undated.

“The Governments of the United States and the United Kingdom have noted with satisfaction that the Foreign Minister of French Republic and Chancellor of Federal Republic of Germany have reached an agreement as to a European status for the Saar. The Governments of the United States and the United Kingdom welcome this agreement pending the conclusion of a peace treaty or of a settlement in lieu thereof. On the assumption that the EDC as a step in the development of the European community is concluded, the Governments of the United States and the United Kingdom will undertake furthermore to propose and support the acceptance of this solution as final, both at the negotiations which precede such Treaty or settlement and in its execution.”

If something further appears needed, we would be prepared to add the following:

“The Governments of the United States and the United Kingdom have an abiding interest in the effectiveness of this settlement of the status of the Saar. Accordingly, if this status should be threatened, the two Governments will consider it of such concern as to require consultation as to the proper measures to be taken.”

1. Prepared in WE on Mar. 24 together with the attached statement and transmitted to Secretary Dulles for approval on that day under cover of a memorandum from Merchant to Secretary Dulles. (762.022/3–2454) The Secretary of State approved the memorandum and the attached statement and transmitted them to President Eisenhower on Mar. 26. The source text bears the handwritten notation “For the Sec State, the attached, which I’ve initialed, appears satisfactory to me. D.E.”
2. Following the dispatch of telegram 4771 (Document 671) representatives from the Department of State and the British Embassy discussed the draft statement and arrived at the text which appears below. A record of their discussion was transmitted to London in telegram 4898, Mar. 23. (762.022/3–2354) The source text was approved by President Eisenhower on Mar. 26 and bears the initials “D.E.”