Foreign Relations of the United States, 1952–1954, Western European Security, Volume V, Part 2

762.022/10–1854: Telegram

The Chargé in the United Kingdom (Butterworth) to the Department of State ¹

secret
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London, October 18, 1954—5 p.m.

1942. Embassy shown today Foreign Office instructions on Saar which confirm no British mediation contemplated for present. Indeed British Ambassadors Bonn and Paris not to approach Adenauer or Mendes-France on subject. In Foreign Office view Mendes should concentrate on obtaining economic concessions which Adenauer reportedly ready to grant and avoid attempt obtain political provisions of Strasbourg agreement² which Adenauer no longer able to grant.

Foreign Office Representative added in confidence advisability of mediation would have to be restudied after October 19 meeting. Should Saar be linked to Brussels Pact and Franco-German agreement not reached UK as member probably would have to intervene even if US refrained. If impasse still resulted US would probably have to throw its influence into scale.

Butterworth

1. Repeated to Paris and Bonn.
2. For information concerning the Strasbourg Agreement, also referred to as the Teitgen–Adenauer Agreement, signed on May 22, 1954, see the editorial note, p. 967.