206. Telegram From the Ambassador in Belgium (Alger) to the Department of State1
689. Spaak told me late yesterday he is very optimistic on prospects early signature and ratification EURATOM and common market treaties after his conversation with other Foreign Ministers Paris last week. As he has announced publicly, he expects negotiations be completed between middle and end January. He said he found French enthusiasm so keen that it amounted virtually to about-face and added this attributable to their Suez experience. If nothing happens to Mollet Government, French expect present two treaties to Parliament as package and count on ratification. He added common market drafting has forged appreciably ahead of EURATOM. Spaak said due Adenauer’s position German Government presented no problem, but German industrialists acting rather mysteriously. He explained by stating when efforts made arouse their interest in EURATOM by asking if they will not need raw materials they affect indifference and indicated they would have no trouble on open market.
Rothschild pointed up Spaak’s remark about effect Suez experience on French attitude toward integration by remarking to Embassy officer French appear finally to see they must work together with [Page 498] rest of Europe if they are to have significant role in world affairs, conviction Belgians have been trying for several years put over. He said while French nationalistic feelings have not diminished outcome Egyptian venture had brought home to French extent to which their ability act independently has dwindled. Rothschild added it is ironic that Suez venture and US stand thereon was having more effect push integration than had US urgings over past years. He said anti-American content new push behind integration should not disturb US as Europe cannot and will not become third force with neutralist overtones, due Europe’s military and economic dependence US. In this connection he referred statement in Spaak’s NATO council’s speech accepting Secretary General election2 which emphasized importance NATO shield to building of European preponderance US contributions to that shield.
- Source: Department of State, Central Files, 840.1901/12–1956. Confidential. Repeated for information to Paris, London, Luxembourg, Rome, Bonn, and The Hague; passed to Butterworth in Luxembourg and USRO in Paris.↩
- During the NAC Ministerial meeting in Paris, December 11–14, Spaak was elected Secretary General of NATO.↩