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

226. Memorandum of a Conversation, Department of State, Washington, March 5, 1957¹

Washington, March 5, 1957

SUBJECT

• European integration

PARTICIPANTS

• U.S. Side
  • The Secretary of State
  • Deputy Under Secretary Murphy
  • Senator George
  • Mr. Sullivan—Defense
  • Mr. Bowie
  • Mr. Elbrick
  • Mr. Timmons
  • Mr. Reinstein
  • Mr. Creel
  • Mr. Parker
• German Side
  • Mr. von Brentano, German Foreign Minister
  • Dr. Krekeler, German Ambassador
  • Professor Grewe, German Foreign Office
  • Baron von Welck, German Foreign Office
  • Mr. von Kessel, Minister, German Embassy
  • Mr. Harkort, Ger. Foreign Off.
  • Mr. Limbourg, Ger. Foreign Off.
  • Mr. von Lilienfeld, Ger. Foreign Off.
  • Mr. Jaenicke, Ger. Foreign Off.

Turning to the agenda item on European integration, Brentano said that the Secretary was no doubt fully informed as to the most recent developments regarding the common market and EURATOM.² In brief, the drafting of the texts had been completed and it was hoped the agreements could be signed by the end of March. He wished to comment on only one point, the inclusion of overseas territories in the common market. While the Germans favored in principle the inclusion of such territories, there was some hesitation over entering into colonial commitments. He believed, however, that a satisfactory solution had been found and believed that the funds which would be made available would be used for developing the economies of these territories and help their progress toward further independence. While the Federal Republic was not completely satisfied with these agreements in every respect, he thought there would be no difficulty over their ratification, by the Bundestag or by most of the other Parliaments. He was not so sure, however, about the French Parliament.

Brentano added that he welcomed the fact that other European countries, such as the United Kingdom, Austria and the Scandinavian countries, had expressed an interest in participating in the common market through free trade zones. Even the Ambassador of Morocco had expressed a desire for his country to be associated with the common market. Brentano looked forward to the establishment of a large unified economic area which should also make for a greater measure of political integration of Europe. On behalf of this objective the Germans had made a number of concessions but they felt the goal was worth the sacrifices made.

The Secretary said that few subjects have such a hold on the imagination of the American people as the integration and unification of Europe. This had been evidenced in many ways, for example, as Senator George³ could testify, in many Congressional acts, and in the Secretary’s own writings and speeches. President Eisenhower was also greatly interested in this subject. He therefore noted with great gratification the progress which had been made. We were aware that this was due in no small measure to the efforts made by Chancellor Adenauer and Foreign Minister von Brentano. It would lead to great disillusionment in this country and stimulate a tendency on the part of the United States to withdraw into itself should this great project suffer the fate of EDC. The United States would do what it could to ensure that these concepts became a reality and we would welcome guidance from the friends of these projects as to whether we should say anything on the subject, and when and how. The Secretary remarked that sometimes the best thing we could do was to say nothing.

The Secretary said he was interested to learn that Morocco wished to join the common market and was not sure whether Brentano welcomed this or had merely noted it as a fact. The Secretary expressed the view that if the common market is to be effective and to work as we hope, it should lead to increasing political unity and it might be better for the common market to be limited to countries which could establish common political ties. The Secretary said he also regarded the fact that the United Kingdom was not now opposing the common market as a very important factor. He felt that EDC would not have failed had the UK taken earlier a more sympathetic attitude toward it. The Secretary said he felt it was more important than ever that we take advantage of the present fortunate concatenation of events to press forward with these projects before the situation changed.

Brentano said he wished to point out, to avoid any misunderstanding about Morocco, that while the common market is limited to the six European countries, the possibility existed for other countries either to participate in the free trade zone linked to the common market or to associate themselves with the common market by agreement (as in the case of the association of the United Kingdom with the Coal and Steel Community). He thought Morocco wished to become associated with the common market in this way without becoming a member.

The Secretary said that this discussion of Morocco reminded him of what he had said to Mr. Ollenhauer about the great importance of establishing a proper relationship between Western Europe and Africa.⁴ He felt this offered great and exciting prospects for the future. He said we tended to look at maps too much on the basis of an East-West projection and that if we turned the map around we would realize that Africa is the natural hinterland of Europe. The possibilities for Europe in Africa are immense, and on this basis Europe can entertain great prospects for the future, possibly even greater than the United States and Soviet Union, rather than being regarded as a declining civilization. He felt that under present circumstances Horace Greeley’s old slogan “Go West, young man” should be changed to “Go South, young man”. The Secretary added that both Mollet and Pineau were greatly interested in this concept and referred to the fact that one of them had probably invented the phrase EURAFRICA. It was often useful to have a phrase like this to popularize a concept.

Brentano referred again to the suggestion made by the Moroccans and said he had found it interesting because it showed they realized they were dependent on Europe and that there was some distance between Morocco and the Arab world. He felt this might be a good starting point for development of further relations without getting involved at the same time in undesirable entanglements.

1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 440.002/3–557. Confidential. Drafted by Reinstein.
2. Von Brentano was in Washington for an official 5-day visit, March 3–7.
3. Former Senator Walter F. George, Special Assistant to the President.
4. See Document 222.