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

124. Memorandum of a Conversation, Paris, October 25, 1955¹

Paris, October 25, 1955

PARTICIPANTS

• M. Jean Monnet
• The Secretary
• Mr. Merchant (for latter part)

The Secretary saw M. Jean Monnet at the latter’s request for about half an hour this evening. M. Monnet described at length his current efforts to create a European pool for the peaceful use of atomic energy. He referred to the prominent Europeans who had associated themselves with him in this activity. He expressed grave concern over the attitudes on this subject which have developed in Germany. The German industrialists are anxious to reserve this entire area for their own operation without governmental participation or interference. Moreover the impression is growing in Germany that the Germans will be able to make a better deal bilaterally with the United States on the provision of fissionable material than would be possible through a multilateral agreement with the United States. M. Monnet was assured that the United States Government was anxious to cooperate with any multilateral agency created in this area because it believed that a further impetus toward European integration could derive from the establishment of such a pool. The nature of the cooperation of the United States and in fact the initial determination that cooperation of any sort was possible would necessarily depend upon the form which such a European agency developed. Our attitude, however, was sympathetic and whereas there were procedural and possibly statutory complications on the part of the United States, the intent was present to work with any such agency to the maximum extent feasible. M. Monnet was also told that we were aware of the attitudes developing in Germany and that our Ambassador at Bonn had been authorized informally to let the Germans know that there was no reason to suppose that any nation would benefit by bilateral agreement with the United States beyond the benefits which could be expected to be available for a European agency. They were also to be told that we were following this development with great interest and close attention because of the hopes it seemed to hold for a further move toward integration in Western Europe.

M. Monnet seemed pleased with this information. He expressed the desire, however, to talk further to the Secretary on the subject and stated his intention during the course of the Foreign Ministers Conference to make a visit to Geneva for that purpose.

1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 840.1901/12–2555. Confidential. Drafted by Merchant. The conversation took place at the American Embassy residence.