Foreign Relations of the United States, 1952–1954, Western European Security, Volume V, Part 1

740.00/5–1553: Telegram

The United States Observer to the Interim Committee of the European Defense Community (Bruce) to the Department of State ¹

secret

Paris, May 15, 1953—7 p.m.

Coled 75. In personal conversation with member my staff, one of Adenauer’s principal advisers on European questions made following points:

1. Germans do not expect much progress in European policy until fall. Major reasons are Italian and German elections, impossibility of Saar settlement at this time and shadow of Soviet peace offensive. French ratification of EDC unlikely before autumn. German Government prepared to sign EPC statute in present form but does not expect decision from six governments until fall.

2. Federal Government apparently does not believe Soviets prepared to accept reunification of Germany on basis free elections and freedom of all-German Government to choose its own Allies. Next few months should be used to demonstrate this fact and show up insincerity of Soviet “peace” tactics. Resulting disillusionment expected produce more favorable climate in France and Germany for new progress toward goal of West European Federation.

3. This interim period should also be used to iron out differences of opinion among six governments concerning EPC statute so that when time for action arrives, governments need only take political decision to sign.

4. Chancellor will definitely not be in position to negotiate on Saar until after German elections. In meanwhile, Germans believe it would be useful to explore at technical level the economic implications of “Europeanization” as groundwork for new attempt at real settlement in the fall. Attitude of Cabinet and coalition leaders in Germany now much more moderate; there is growing feeling that European policy too important to be sacrificed to intransigeance on Saar. This will improve Chancellor’s position in technical talks but will not have any public results until after elections.

5. In two conversations I have had this week with Adenauer, he has expressed general views in consonance with the foregoing. He realizes that his comparative intransigeance on the Saar problem until after German elections may well postpone action on EDC treaty by French Parliament until autumn, but he prefers this to political risks of settlement at this time even if he personally were satisfied with its terms.

Bundesrat as Department knows took favorable action today on EDC. Chancellor told me Wednesday that in such event he would not be worried about ultimate decision constitutional court.

Bruce

1. Repeated to Bonn, London, Brussels, The Hague, Rome, and Luxembourg.