Office of the Historian

222. Memorandum of a Conversation, Department of State, Washington, February 18, 19571

Washington, February 18, 1957

SUBJECT

  • Germany and European integration

PARTICIPANTS

  • Dr. Heinz L. Krekeler, German Ambassador
  • Mr. Erich Ollenhauer, Leader, German Social Democratic Party
  • Mr. Fritz Heine, Press Chief, German Social Democratic Party
  • The Secretary of State
  • Mr. Carl W. McCardle, Assistant Secretary of State for Public Affairs
  • Mr. John W. Jones, Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for European Affairs
  • Mr. R.E. Lisle, Deputy Directory, Office of German Affairs

The Secretary had opened the conversation by recalling that he had last met Mr. Ollenhauer at Geneva and had at that time discussed European integration.2 Mr. Ollenhauer responded affirmatively to the hope that he continued to support it as firmly as he had at that time. After a discussion of German reunification, the Secretary emphasized our interest in the steps being taken for economic unification of Europe, mentioning particularly EURATOM and the common market. He pointed out the great advantage Germany has of not being a colonial power and how with this and its economic strength it could contribute materially to the working out of an association of Europe and Africa out of which could come a whole new force in the world. By bringing the countries of Europe and Africa closer together, Germany could further the development of a great European hinterland. Europe should be thinking in terms of “Young man, go South.” From the viewpoint of its potentialities in Africa, Europe is not worn out, but on the threshold of great development in a manner which should inspire the imaginations of youth.

Mr. Ollenhauer replied that the Social Democratic Party (SPD) was in favor of the common market. It had become apparent that it was impracticable to integrate successfully only one segment of European economy such as attempted with the Coal and Steel Community. The SPD had in its discussions been concerned only with two open questions, namely, to what extent agriculture should be a part of the common market and whether overseas territories could be included. He saw in the latter problem probable difficulty in the light of the French position in Africa. He did not know what the outcome [Page 526] would be. He agreed entirely with the Secretary on the potentialities of Africa.

With regard to EURATOM, Mr. Ollenhauer said that his party fully supported it but believed that it was necessary to have complete control of fissionable material. He wondered whether under the treaty it would be possible to have effective control. The position of the U.S. as the largest supplier of fissionable material was very important. The Secretary assured Mr. Ollenhauer that although the U.S. cannot control the language of the treaty, we would not supply fissionable material unless it was under full control. We, ourselves, keep title to fissionable material in supplying it to our industries. The Germans can count on the same position being taken in our dealings with foreign countries.

  1. Source: Department of State, Secretary’s Memoranda of Conversation: Lot 64 D 199. Confidential. Drafted by Lisle on February 19.↩
  2. This meeting took place on February 18. Dulles and Ollenhauer met at Geneva on November 9, 1955, during the Foreign Ministers Conference. A memorandum of that conversation is scheduled for publication in a forthcoming Foreign Relations volume.↩