740.5/3–1253: Telegram
The United States Observer to the Interim Committee of the European Defense Community (Bruce) to the Department of State 1
niact
Coled 30. Distribution as directed by Under Secretary. Eyes only Chiefs of Mission. Subject is European Defense Community.
1. I have now talked to Foreign Ministers of all six nations on this subject, as well as to numbers of other officials and Parliamentarians.
[Page 767]a. Adenauer certain his government will obtain passage on third reading commencing in Bundestag March 19.2
b. Italy’s (as reported Strasbourg telegram 300 to Department)3 Mario no longer confident they can get action in Lower Chamber before dissolution pending elections, However, this question not yet decided since De Gasperi willing to take risks if situation permits.
c. Bech talked frankly to Adenauer and myself yesterday about Luxembourg position. Is settled in determination expressed to me in Luxembourg not to seek ratification his Parliament where approval will be easy, until Belgium and perhaps France also have acted.
This springs from traditional policies his country against taking first line position. He thinks that speedy ratification Luxembourg would only irritate these other two nations and would be harmful to ultimate achievement.
d. Van Zeeland must be induced to take early action in Belgian Parliament. At present he is not pressing for vote and has no intention doing so. His tactics are considered obstructive and devious. I have discussed with Spaak, whom Van Zeeland dislikes, what might be done to influence him. Spaak believes as do some of Van Zeeland’s close advisers, and also Adenauer, that best and perhaps only chance would be have President Eisenhower and Secretary talk next week frankly and firmly to this wily statesman during his stay in US,4 playing upon his vanity and pointing out prestige to be gained for his country by this operation. His assertion that he can do nothing until French Assembly votes is highly disruptive and deemed indicative his insincerity and skepticism regarding all European integration movements. Spaak believes favorable vote relatively easy to obtain.
e. Dutch, in their methodical and reliable way, are proceeding toward ratification and if satisfactory settlement French protocol demands achieved expect favorable Parliamentary action within two months, in spite Prime Minister’s distrust subject. Beyen most cooperative.
f. France is obviously the chief trouble spot in this enterprise. Pleven told me he hopes for favorable Parliamentary action in July provided that Socialist support can be attracted and that France is partially isolated by preceding votes of several partners. This prediction presupposes agreement on protocols.
Mayer is firm in his purpose obtain ratification. Told me that four conditions must be met in Parliament.
(1) Protocols in some form are agreed.
(2) A close association with Great Britain satisfactory to French Socialists is evolved.
[Page 768](3) He succeeds in obtaining greater American assistance in Indochina.
(4) Saar problem is settled with Adenauer. Regarding the last, Mayer feels that to accomplish this Adenauer and himself must negotiate together. Adenauer tells me he voices this view, particularly because he holds Bidault in low regard. Opportunity for two heads of state to meet without offending Bidault and causing undesirable publicity has not yet presented itself. May do so on May 12 at time governments consider EPC text. Have talked to Bidault but have not yet been able to form estimate his real intentions. He is said to be casting longing eye on succession to Auriol in autumn and therefore anxious conciliate Gaullists. Others allege he is by nature crafty and unreliable. His friends maintain he is manoeuvering skillfully to achieve ratification. He has become very unpopular with his European colleagues who consider his witty remarks and his subterranean methods signs of innate levity and lack of conviction. Bidault and Mayer are mutually unsympathetic but the support Bidault and the MRP are essential to the government.
Teitgen who is close personally to Bidault thinks latter will after municipal elections in May become aggressive sponsor of ratification EDC and there will be possibility at that time Socialists re-entering the government with Mollet a Cabinet Minister. Meanwhile Bidault is being deliberately unenthusiastic about EPC to gain Mollet and like Socialist support for EDC.5 Mollet opposes present EPC draft primarily on grounds that being based on complete federation for six nations, it prejudices possibility of UK “participation” for “special membership”. Some other French would like link EPC and EDC. French situation regard to EPC is so complex will discuss it in later Telegram.
Bidault spoke to me generally along same lines as did Mayer and I think we can assume this is government position both of them wish to talk further after I have been around the six nation circuit before their departure Washington.
My own impression Bidault is playing a deep game, is lone wolf operator and counsels with few. Recently observed to me he has been long committed to the several proposals for European unity, and has repeatedly stated his support for EDC. Large majority of Foreign Office officials advising him are violently opposed to EDC.
Following Department’s instructions I had long exposition from Mollet of his views and assessment of prospects EDC chances in French Parliament. Mollet says that 25 percent Socialists including Moch and Daniel Mayer will be against treaty on any terms. Another 25 percent will vote staunchly for it. Mollet is ranged with the doubtful 50 percent who have had three objectives. First a more complete US guarantee regarding duration of NATO, et cetera. Second, a more democratic form of political control over the EDC Commissariat. Third, a close association with the British [Page 769] including stronger understanding reference stationing UK forces on continent. His Socialists have abandoned expectation of gaining first two objectives at this time and would be satisfied if they attain the third. Mollet about 10 days ago conferred with Attlee, Morrison and other Labor as well as Conservative members House of Commons and received assurances from them that were encouraging.
The following is important in above connection. Mollet believes that conversations this subject between British and French at government level will not prove effective, and that British Government should appoint a delegation composed chiefly of Parliamentarians to confer with similar French delegation. In this way French Socialists who are not represented in government would be brought fully into picture.6 He thinks that such a conference would speedily bring about agreement without British making unduly substantial further concessions. Following it he would convoke his Party Congress and announce Socialist support for EDC. In a separate telegram I will give his estimate of the probable Parliamentarian vote if treaty were submitted now.
I have talked to the above Frenchmen and others including Teitgen about delaying tactics of Jules Moch and Koenig in their capacities as committee reporters. If Socialists are won over all feel that present reporters can be replaced and others substituted, or committees discharged and matter referred directly to Assembly. This would create opportunity for Parliamentarian action late June or early July.
2. Tomlinson and I leaving March 11 for Bonn and seeing Adenauer next day. Going Rome Monday to talk De Gasperi, Lombardo and others and probably will visit Holland next week. Nothing to be explored in Belgium during Van Zeeland’s absence but will see him in Brussels toward end of month.
3. Personally feel guardedly optimistic EDC will be ratified by six Parliaments. The majority of public everywhere recognizes necessity German military contribution and prefers this route to possible reconstitution German National Army. Notably in France, in spite of lack popular instruction on meaning project, the public is in advance of the politicians in wishing ratification.
4. Sentiments in Ad Hoc Parliamentary Assembly extremely encouraging. Here you see zeal, determination, accommodation of secular antagonisms and Europe in the making, leading to conclusion that the tide though slow in rising will finally prove irresistible.
5. It is very important to our relationships with the individuals named in this telegram that its distribution be severely restricted.
- Repeated niact to London, Bonn, Rome, The Hague, Brussels, and Luxembourg.↩
- The Bundestag approved the EDC Treaty on Mar. 19 by a vote of 224–165 and the Contractual Agreements by a vote of 226–164 following the decision of the Constitutional Court on Mar. 7 that no final judgment on the legality of the agreements could be given until after they were completely ratified.↩
- Not printed; it reported a conversation between Bruce and De Gasperi on Mar. 9 in which Bruce “again stressed key importance of early ratification of EDC in Italy” and De Gasperi expressed uncertainty due, Bruce later learned, to De Gasperi’s fear of a coalition of right and left in the Italian Parliament which could successfully filibuster an EDC bill until dissolution in 3 weeks time. Bruce added that the Italian Government seemed to be considering alternative plans that might provide for early ratification (740.5/3–1053).↩
- See memorandum of conversation, Mar. 16, p. 773.↩
- A handwritten notation on the source text at this point reads: “Peculiar—may gain soc support UK assoc?”↩
- A handwritten notation on the source text at this point reads: “good idea. Belg attitude.”↩