193. Telegram From the Ambassador in Germany (Conant) to the Department of State1
1383. Reference: Deptel 957.2 I am of opinion it would be most undesirable to complicate present delicate negotiations on EURATOM by entering into power bilateral discussions with France and Italy. While present climate political opinion in Germany following lead given by Adenauer favors German moves toward European integration, including EURATOM, Germany is being called upon make a number of concessions on EURATOM draft treaty which are strongly opposed by powerful industrial interests and two major interested ministries. It would make task of German political leaders, who are inclined make these concessions, considerably more difficult if Germans learned of power bilateral negotiations which as Department points out probably cannot be kept confidential. Opponents of EURATOM would find support for their views that EURATOM unnecessary and only tying German hands, since generous terms obtainable from U.S. sooner in bilateral negotiations. Embassy recalls unfavorable impact on EURATOM negotiations of Dutch and Swiss power bilaterals earlier this year.
Department of course also aware that much time would elapse before either France or Italy could make use of requested quantities U–235. Both countries will surely realize that delay negotiations several months would not seriously affect their respective nuclear energy programs and that on other hand these negotiations could jeopardize EURATOM.
Therefore considering importance attached to EURATOM by U.S. recommend postpone negotiations for period during which fate EURATOM likely to be solved one way or another, and explain U.S. [Page 476] reasons to French and Italians. Would help greatly if key officials FedRep could be informed of such action.
- Source: Department of State, Central Files, 840.1901/10–1056. Confidential; Priority. Repeated for information to Rome, Paris, London, Brussels, Luxembourg, and The Hague; passed to ICA.↩
- In telegram 957 to Bonn, October 5, also sent to Brussels, Luxembourg, Paris, Rome, and The Hague, the Department reported that Italy and France had independently approached the United States the previous week to negotiate classified atomic energy bilateral agreements. The Department expressed concern during preliminary discussions with officials from the Italian Embassy that a bilateral atomic energy agreement might interfere with the success of the EURATOM treaty. “Our objective is to throw responsibility for considering effects of bilateral negotiations back on Europeans” the telegram reads, “so US cannot be accused hindering treaty work. Department keenly aware Conant’s view that we should be careful not upset uneasy balance US atomic energy bilateral relations with France and Germany. On other hand US actively engaged, as aspect of Atoms for Peace Program, in negotiation bilateral agreements.” The Department indicated that it would urgently appreciate comments regarding this situation. (Ibid., 611.6597/10–556)↩