Foreign Relations of the United States, 1955–1957, Western European Security and Integration, Volume IV

121. Telegram From the Ambassador in Belgium (Alger) to the Department of State¹

Brussels, October 21, 1955—5 p.m.

390. Ophuels told me yesterday during courtesy return his courtesy call he believes intergovernmental committee on European integration will come up with some significant progress but that one of areas of difficulty is kind of atomic pool proposal which will emerge. He asked me to recommend that US Government let it be known that German industrialists would gain no advantage through bilateral agreement with US, not be had through participation pool. I told him my Government was sympathetic to Messina effort but that on his specific suggestion I had no idea what my Government’s reactions would be but would report his suggestions.

As Department will have observed, Ophuels’ suggestion to me is along lines suggestions which have been passed to US representative to CSC Luxembourg and in Bonn.²

Since I believe (1) that US should take no initiative in integration field during course of Spaak’s efforts to implement Messina agreement without having assurance that timing and general content would not be regarded as unfortunate by Spaak, (2) that pressure on US to take some action is increasing and (3) as Spaak will be away from Brussels until October 26, I requested an Embassy officer to sound out Rothschild³ discreetly in the course of a previously arranged meeting.

Rothschild told Embassy officer he continues to believe that useful projects will come out of intergovernmental committee’s work, especially in atomic energy and common market areas. He said that efforts of atomic energy working committee had not yet reached decisive stage, even on expert level, which he emphasized all working committees are. He said large number of difficulties of varying degrees of importance had naturally been encountered from time to time as experts tried to work out their problems but that these difficulties were being overcome and he felt optimistic that progress would continue to be made. He said he wished to urge that too much importance not be attached at this stage to the problems of any given day, and added that what would count would be the final report to the Ministers which Spaak would be able to get the chiefs of delegations to agree to. He said that to be specific as regards the atomic energy working committee, some difficulties were being encountered due to the attitude currently being adopted by certain German industrialists. The Embassy officer then inquired if Rothschild saw a present utility in the US Government’s endeavoring to be helpful, adding that he did not, of course, know that the US Government would be able to take any specific action but that he wished to have Rothschild’s personal view.

Rothschild replied that he believes that it would definitely be premature for the US to take any action at this time, either as regards atomic energy pool or general progress of intergovernmental committee. He said he felt Belgians working here and through their friends in Germany would be able to overcome present difficulties and emphasized once again that atomic energy working committee has still not completed its work at expert level and that even the work of the experts would be inconclusive, since maneuvering on the political level would really begin when work on overall report underway. He added Belgium still had measure of bargaining strength in atomic energy field due to its special relationships with US.

Rothschild added that if situation revealed that some action by US would be helpful he would not fail to raise matter informally with US.

Rothschild told Embassy officer that atomic energy working committee had not been able to meet since October 7, due solely to inability of members to come together. He anticipates its next and presumably last meeting will occur October 26 or 27 and that this committee’s report should be available early November. Other working committee reports now completed and copies will be air pouched Department upon receipt. Spaak’s drafting group has already tackled common market question and Rothschild said Belgians were pleased with French proposal in this field. Although it is not audacious, it is the first constructive integration proposal emanating from French Government in 3 years. He added on highly confidential basis that paper had French Cabinet approval. French paper received too late to be incorporated in final report of common market working committee but two will be blended together in Spaak’s final report.

Embassy officer got impression that fact problems encountered in day to day work at expert level have been extensively reported by US Missions has come to attention Belgian Foreign Office and that they believe it would be unfortunate if too much importance were attached status of intergovernmental committee’s work at any preliminary stage. In this connection see Embassy despatch 436 of October 14⁴ reporting similar comment by Hupperts, Deputy Chief Belgian delegation.

In the light of Rothschild’s views, I strongly believe it would be inopportune for US attempt at this time to influence negotiations connected with current progress work intergovernmental committee.

I urge Rothschild’s views re US action at this time be closely held in order avoid prejudicing Embassy’s relations with him.

Alger

1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 840.00/10–2155. Secret.

2. In telegram 1177 from Bonn, October 13, the Embassy reported on several recent conversations with three German officials who had participated in the Brussels integration meetings. The telegram reads in part as follows:

   “Officials both Economic Ministry and Foreign Office note an important factor contributing to difficulty in reaching agreement regarding establishment European atomic energy agency is uncertainty regarding attitude United States Government, especially on allocations enriched nuclear fuels. In fact, Embassy has previously heard that German opponents nuclear agency argue its member countries will receive less favorable treatment from US than if they were to deal with US individually. Same fears are expressed regarding future relationship between proposed international atomic agency and European agency.” (Ibid., 840.00/10–1355)

   Colux 25 from Luxembourg, October 17, reads in part as follows:

   “According to source close to Spaak, German opposition threatens agreement on integration European nuclear energy industry, but clarification of US position might force Germans to give up lone wolf approach. Basic question is whether US would consider supplying for next few years adequate quantities nuclear fuel to European agency. Without such assurance, Germans will continue seeing better prospect for themselves in bilateral deal with US and refuse joining European agency. Indications are Belgians willing to make certain concessions to prevent breakdown negotiations.” (Ibid., 840.1901/10–1755)

3. Robert Rothschild, Belgian Chef de Cabinet.
4. Not printed. (Department of State, Central Files, 840.00/10–1455)