Editorial Note
European unity and early ratification of the EDC Treaty were discussed at the Meetings of the Foreign Ministers of the United States, United Kingdom, and France at Washington, July 10 to 14, 1953. Throughout the discussions, Lord Salisbury of the United Kingdom and Secretary Dulles continually reiterated their country’s keen desire to see an early ratification of the EDC, and both men reminded Bidault of the strenuous exertions made on behalf of European unity by the United States and United Kingdom since the close of World War II. [Page 796] Bidault, in turn, continually expressed recognition of the impatience generated in the United States and United Kingdom by French hesitancy to ratify, reiterated the many problems which stood in the way of early ratification by the French National Assembly, and pledged to work for ratification as soon as feasible.
Lord Salisbury and Secretary Dulles, in turn, pledged that proposed Four-Power talks with the Soviet Union concerning the future of Germany would not be permitted to re-open the question of EDC. For documentation on the meetings of the Foreign Ministers, see pages 1582 ff.