762.022/5–2154: Telegram
No. 688
The Acting United States Representative
to the European Coal and Steel Community (Tomlinson) to the
Department of State1
niact
Coled 249. Following is repeat of Strasbourg telegram sent Paris 51, May 20, 9 p.m.
“From Bruce Mission. Following is text of draft Franco-German agreement on Saar presented at this afternoon’s meeting on Saar question referred to in Coled 247 to Department.2
Begin Text: Government of Federal Republic of Germany and Government of French Republic, desirous of facilitating policy of European integration, are agreed on settlement of Saar question on basis of proposals contained in report of General Affairs Committee of Consultative Assembly of Council of Europe dated September 25, 1953.3
The two governments interpret as follows Articles 1, 12 and 19 of above-mentioned report:
Article 1. Final objective of proposed solution is to make Saar a European territory. This objective will be achieved in three stages. (First two stages bring only political solution to problem.)
First stage. A European Commissioner for Saar shall be appointed by Committee of Ministers of Council of Europe.
Majority necessary for his election shall be required include votes of France and Germany. Commissioner shall defend interests of Saar with respect to foreign policy and defense; he shall ensure respect and fulfillment of all provisions of statute which fall within his competence. He shall be responsible to Committee of Ministers of Council of Europe.
Second stage. Upon election by direct universal suffrage of a European Assembly, European Commissioner for Saar shall be responsible to that assembly in accordance with procedures that remain to be determined.
Third stage. Following creation of European Political Community, as is provided in communiqué issued by Ministers in Luxembourg on September 10, 19524 Saar territory shall be European territory.
European Commissioner for Saar shall then be responsible to legislative assemblies of political community.
At no time and under no pretext can the stage reached under process described above be placed in question. Each stage reached shall be irrevocable.
[Page 1535]Article 12. (A) Principles upon which Franco-Saar union are currently based shall be incorporated in an economic cooperation convention concluded between France and Saar.
(B) In the economic field, the objective to be achieved as regards Germany and Saar is to create relations similar to those existing between France and Saar. However, such objective can only be achieved progressively, with all measures of safeguard being taken to ensure that fulfillment of Franco-Saar economic cooperation, referred to in preceding paragraph, is never jeopardized. At no time may progressive broadening of economic relations between Germany and Saar lead to re-establishment of customs division between France and Saar.
(C) In immediate future, the measures that will be adopted to increase trade between Germany and Saar may not seriously affect French balance of payments.
Article 19. Government of Federal Republic of Germany and Government of French Republic undertake commitment to support and guarantee European statute of Saar pending conclusion of peace treaty or settlement in lieu thereof.
Together they shall ask the Governments of United Kingdom and United States to undertake an identical commitment.
Government of French Republic reserves right to ask Governments of United Kingdom and United States to propose and support solution currently agreed in settlement of Saar question upon occasion of negotiations in peace treaty or settlement in lieu thereof. Saar population shall be consulted in conformity with provisions stipulated in Articles 22 and 23 of report made by General Affairs Committee to Consultative Assembly of Council of Europe of September 25, 1953. Saar shall become seat of certain European institutions.
Government of Federal Republic of Germany and Government of French Republic accept all other provisions contained in report of September 25, 1953 of General Affairs Committee of Consultative Assembly of Council of Europe on proposals defining European statute of Saar. They agreed to carry out those provisions unless, in course of future talks, they arrive by common agreement at better formula than that proposed in above-mentioned report as concerns one or other of its points.5 End text. Signed Andrews.”