740.5/9–1753: Telegram
The Ambassador in France (Dillon) to the Department of State 1
1101. Re Embtels 9612 and 1090.3 Twice in last two days Laniel4 has dwelt at length on his determination to secure French ratification [Page 808] of EDC before end of year. One of his principal reasons for his decision not to go to Washington at this time was belief that communiqué after such a visit would inevitably mention EDC and his subsequent efforts here would be characterized by its opponents as due US pressure. He and his personal advisers feel that he is particularly well qualified to lead ratification fight. They cite his resistance record (as against Pinay), his party (Independent) in contrast to Bidault’s membership in MRP (which has always been committed to EDC), his influence with rightist opponents of EDC and finally that he had not previously been known as proponent or opponent.
Laniel like Bidault (Embtel 1090) states he would give top priority to EDC ratification and would devote much personal time to working on uncommitted or opposing deputies. He asks that we not press him too hard publicly, and particularly that we restrain Adenauer rather than encourage him to push French.
Department’s decision to deal with EDC informally rather than to bring it into exchange of notes on additional aid is bearing good fruit. So is our North African policy. Furthermore, great consideration shown by President, Secretary and MacArthur concerning Laniel’s visit to US has inspired Laniel’s profound gratitude. He is now more determined of his own volition to get EDC ratified than we could ever have made him through any form of pressure. We also have keen competition between Laniel and Bidault as to who can do most to get EDC through. While EDC barometer can rise or fall rapidly, it looks for first time as if French Government were prepared to launch aggressive campaign which has always been necessary but which government has never previously been willing to undertake and to do it with fixed and reasonable timetable in mind.
- Repeated to London and Bonn.↩
- Not printed; it reported a conversation between Dillon and Maurice Schumann on Sept. 9 in which Schumann expressed pleasure with the outcome of the recent elections in the Federal Republic which had “provided much needed shock for French public opinion”, predicted that as a result the EDC Treaty would be ratified in France by the end of the year, and stressed that this was contingent upon a satisfactory solution of the Saar issue which he proceeded to discuss at some length (740.5/9–953).↩
- Not printed, but see footnote 3, p. 802.↩
- Joseph Laniel had formed a new French Government on June 26.↩