740.5/9–1454: Telegram
The Ambassador in France (Dillon) to the Department of State 1
1078. In talking with Senator Wiley yesterday Mendes-France devoted at least half an hour to defending his course on EDC along now familiar line that previous governments had misled us as to prospects but been unwilling to put treaty to test. He alone had been honest, had been willing to force issue, had known it could pass only if modified in accordance with his Brussels proposals on which no one could help him although they affected only procedure and not substance of EDC.
As to future, he held objectives of EDC could be accomplished by means which would avoid its two basic defects: (1) Lack of British participation and (2) too much supranationality too suddenly. Curing second should help cure first. British participation, even if not complete, was key to French ratification. There must also be some commitment as to maintaining of British troops on continent. He would rather listen to Eden than make proposals himself but he nevertheless had a draft ready. We commented that he had said previous French governments had misled us as to French opinion but now he was predicating future course on British commitments which British Government had consistently refused to give. Had there been recent change in British position?
He stated he understood British reluctance but removal of supranational features of EDC should make great difference and each government must make new effort to achieve EDC objectives. Asked how US might help, he replied that it could pressure Britain at proper time. Asked whether NATO framework could not provide solution he said NATO provided the necessary outer structure but that there must be seven-nations interstructure as well.
Senator Wiley expounded forcefully the effect French rejection of EDC had had in increasing Neo-Isolationist sentiment in Congress and his own conviction that peace and survival of the west depended upon achievement of greater unity.
Last night at Mendes small dinner for Wiley (other guests were Letroquer, Moustier, Parodi and Senator Maroger) again expressed concern at extent to which he was counting on new British commitments. He said he knew they would not come in “all the way” but was confident his views provided basis for negotiation and would not be wholly rejected. Senator Maroger was equally insistent that British participation was key to French approval of any solution on Germany.
- Repeated to London, Bonn, Rome, Brussels, The Hague, and Luxembourg.↩