Office of the Historian

233. Memorandum of Conversation1

Washington, January 10, 1967.

SUBJECT

  • US Policy in Europe

PARTICIPANTS

  • His Excellency, Carl Schurmann, Ambassador of the Netherlands
  • Mr. Petrus Buwalda, Counselor, Embassy of the Netherlands
  • Mr. Robert R. Bowie, Counselor
  • Jay P. Moffat, Netherlands Affairs

Ambassador Schurmann referred to the widespread impression that the US no longer actively supports European unification. Mr. Bowie described our policy as essentially unchanged. Our capacity to influence events in Europe, however, has perhaps waned somewhat, and it is hard to know what can effectively be done. There continue also to be many complicating factors, for example confusion about UK and FRG desires and policy. We consider it necessary for the Europeans to get together. The Ambassador said the Dutch are in a dilemma, having opposed the Fouchet Plan in the past. Should they now be persuaded that half of a loaf is better then none? Mr. Bowie said that in hindsight it might perhaps have been wise to have agreed to the Fouchet Plan originally. The Ambassador noted that the FRG is now a more effective counter-weight to France and the UK might enter the EEC. Mr. Bowie alluded to various [Page 528] European charges that the US seeks to dominate Europe. Understandably, we are sensitive to such charges and may thus appear to some to show less interest in Europe, while this in fact is not the case. For us to deal with problems in many fields, e.g. the so-called technological gap, a coherent and active European entity is essential. The Ambassador commented that the Netherlands does not fear US domination. Rather it hopes to avoid a Europe united under a potentially aggressive France, hence Dutch support for UK entry into the Six and close ties with the US.

The Ambassador hoped UK entry would prove possible and said the Five should bend every effort to make it hard for France to say no. The UK could help by reiterating acceptance of the ground rules and not overstressing their “special relationship” with the US. Mr. Bowie commented that this relationship has always inspired a certain mystique and perhaps the British have stressed it for lack of an alternate policy. Ambassador Schurmann noted that the declining UK role in the Far East and the essentially pragmatic personalities of the present US and UK leaders combined to dilute this relationship. Mr. Bowie added that as a practical matter the UK would be wise to turn an ability to talk to us into a European asset, providing itself a greater role in a unified Europe.

Mr. Bowie explained that the trilateral talks are suspended while the new German Government arrives at a position, perhaps in three or four weeks. The Ambassador asked about Senator Mansfield’s views on Europe. Mr. Bowie said he expected the Senator to continue to push his viewpoint, which reflects many not necessarily congruent attitudes of discontent concerning our European policy.

  1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, POL EUR W–US. Confidential. Drafted by Moffat and approved by S/C on January 30.↩