740.00119 Council/5–2848: Telegram
The Ambassador in the United Kingdom (Douglas) to the Secretary of State
2346. Delsec 1764. At meeting four delegations German talks this afternoon it was decided defer discussion on remaining disagreed point in political organization paper (TRI 131) on question of election or designation of Delegates to Constituent Assembly. British delegation not ready discuss this issue until Monday afternoon May 31 by which time cabinet will have considered question, together with that of timing of political program.2
Meeting agreed, at Douglas’ suggestion, to amend minute to Article 1, Ruhr paper,3 in accordance Department’s Secdel 1586 May 26. Last phrase now reads “from entering into a bilateral agreement with the US Government in accordance with the provisions of the foreign assistance act of 1948.”
Communiqué was then discussed and it was agreed that in light of French Government’s insistence on debate in French Assembly only very brief communiqué4 will be issued at close of German talks. This communiqué will probably be limited to statement that all matters of substance have been agreed and that the delegations are now preparing full report to their governments.5 This communiqué will be issued as soon as agreement has been reached on last remaining point in TRI 13, we hope Monday afternoon.
Full communiqué6 will also be prepared at once and submitted to governments for approval with intention of having it released for publication one day before debate in French assembly. If conference [Page 299] finishes its work Monday afternoon it is possible debate can begin in French assembly by Friday or Saturday June 4 or 5. It should not last more than one day. Since French Government approval depends on results of debate in assembly, all delegations recognized need to have debate held soonest, particularly if recommended time schedule is to be followed and proposals to be presented to German Minister President on or before June 15. Every effort will be made here to agree on text of full communiqué by tomorrow afternoon. It will be telegraphed to Department when completed and it is hoped Department’s approval can be given promptly. We understand Bidault can begin informal talks with French Government and assembly leaders in preparation for assembly debate as soon as conference talks ended and draft communiqué available but there is still urgency in obtaining US Government’s approval of communiqué in order to be sure it approves scope of material to be used by Bidault.
This time schedule in regard to releasing communiqué in relations to debate in the French chamber is designed to reduce the period in which the Soviet, we can confidently expect, will have an opportunity to use all its instruments of propaganda in France and elsewhere.
Working Party, which has begun its task of drafting communiqué, has been authorized tentatively to include text of Ruhr paper,7 rather full summary of security paper and as much on political papers as are required by French for presentation to French assembly, taking into account reaction in Germany and need to avoid giving impression of imposed government structure.
It was also tentatively agreed to give communiqué to Soviets 12 hours before publication. British delegation suggested it would also be advisable to give copies of communiqué in advance to other allied Governments.
Reaction of other delegations to this proposal was unenthusiastic and question will be reconsidered tomorrow afternoon when meeting will be held to consider Working Party’s draft communiqué.
Sent Department 2346, repeated USPolAd Berlin 150 and Paris 239.
- For the final version of the paper under reference as agreed upon by the Conference on May 31, see document TRI/13 (Final), May 31, p. 305.↩
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In his telegram 2351, May 29, from London, not printed, Ambassador Douglas strongly recommended that the United States and the United Kingdom give the French advance notice that they will proceed immediately in the Bizonal area to implement the German program should the French for some reason withhold agreement on any of the Conference papers (740.00119 Council/5–2948). Telegram 2003, May 29, to London, not printed, approved the recommendation (740.00119 Council/5–2948).
Telegram 2374, Delsec 1770, May 31, from London, not printed, reported that Ambassador Massigli had told Strang and Douglas that afternoon the French National Assembly debate on the German program would probably be held on June 10 and 11 and vote might not be possible until June 15. Douglas and Strang told Massigli that if the French Government for any reason found the German program unacceptable, the United States and the United Kingdom would, however regretfully, find it necessary to proceed with the program in the Bizonal area (740.00119 Council/5–3148).
↩ - The reference here is to document TRI/23 (Final), May 26, p. 290.↩
- Not printed.↩
- For the final text of the communiqué under reference, dated June 1, and released to the press on June 2, see p. 312.↩
- For the final text of the Conference communiqué under reference here, released to the press on June 7, see p. 313.↩
- Document TRI/16 (Final), May 26, p. 285.↩