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

740.5/9–2953

Memorandum of Conversation, by the Secretary of State¹

secret

[Washington,] September 29, 1953.

Participants:

• The President
• Mr. Van Zeeland
• Belgian Ambassador, Baron Silvercruys
• Secretary Dulles

Mr. Van Zeeland outlined at some length his proposals for Germany and EDC with neutral and semi-neutral zones, etc., as previously submitted in writing to the Secretary.

I pointed out that we had asked the Defense Department to give their reaction to the program, having in mind that it raised some serious logistical problems. Van Zeeland said that he was glad to have it subjected to this study. He went on to say that he expected to discuss the matter with Mr. Churchill and Mr. Bidault and Chancellor Adenauer, and that if the idea seemed to be generally acceptable, he might want to give it some publicity.

The President suggested that it should not happen until after we had heard from the JCS and had a further exchange of views, but that assuming this did not produce serious objections and under the conditions of approval elsewhere indicated by Mr. Van Zeeland, he saw no objection to Mr. Van Zeeland putting it out as a kind of trial balloon, making clear, however, that it had not been agreed to by the United States and that it might have to be “sold” to the United States. The President thought it would be better to imply reluctance on our part rather than eagerness, as otherwise the Soviet would merely take out the parts they wanted as concessions and then go on and ask for more. Mr. Van Zeeland agreed.

The President spoke of the importance of pushing ahead with EDC and Van Zeeland agreed, pointing out that his plan assumed the creation of EDC. Van Zeeland said he hoped that the Belgian Parliament would have completed its action by about the first of November.

The President then spoke of the necessity for broader political and economic unity and Mr. Van Zeeland indicated that he was following this with interest and sympathy, and that he wholly agreed with the strong and eloquent statement which the President had made as to the large possibilities ahead of Europe, if only it could be unified.²

1. Telegram Tedul 3, New York, Sept. 16, reported that Bruce had cabled from Paris that it “would be very helpful if President could see Van Zeeland during his US visit in order discuss with him EDC and European Political Community” (740.5/9–1653). On Sept. 18, MacArthur sent a memorandum to Under Secretary Smith recalling the Bruce proposal, noting that Van Zeeland would be in the United States to attend the Eighth Regular Session of the United Nations General Assembly, and reporting that Ambassador Silvercruys had stated the previous day “that Van Zeeland wanted very much to see the President, and suggested that he could come to Washington September 28, 29, or 30, if the President could receive him” (740.5/9–1853). Telegram 33, Sept. 18, to Merchant and Bruce at Luxembourg reported that the President would receive Van Zeeland on Sept. 29. “Van Zeeland had requested interview on own initiative.” The telegram also reported that Dulles had had a talk with Van Zeeland regarding security guarantees and Van Zeeland was preparing a memorandum for the Secretary which outlined his ideas that appeared closely to approximate those contained in telegram 1055 from Bonn, Sept. 16, p. 806. A copy of telegram 33 is in file 740.5/9–1853.
2. On Sept. 29, acting on instructions from Dulles, MacArthur telephoned Silvercruys “with a view to being sure that Mr. Van Zeeland would not publicly announce his proposal regarding a European security arrangement without consulting with us”. Silvercruys replied that “he could state categorically that Van Zeeland would utter nothing publicly about this until he knew our views and had obtained our judgement on whether a public statement would be useful”. In response to Silvercruys’ query as to the length of time required for scrutiny of the proposal by the Joint Chiefs, MacArthur stated that a direct answer was impossible “but that I had the impression we would not have any considered views on Van Zeeland’s idea for at least three weeks” (Memorandum of telephone conversation by MacArthur, 740.5/9–2353).