Foreign Relations of the United States, 1952–1954, Western Europe and Canada, Volume VI, Part 1

740.00/9–752: Telegram

No. 101
The Chargé in France (Achilles) to the Department of State¹

secret

Paris, September 7, 1952—6 p.m.

1453. Subj: EPC. Ref Deptel 1273, September 4.²

We confirm our preference that US contact with discussions on Eur Polit Community be informal. In accordance with Topol 88³ and discussions with Merchant and Tomlinson in Washington, we plan to follow EPC developments through informal Emb–SRE group. Bonn is now designating someone to be available here part-time to work on EDC, CSC and EPC problems. Officers available in the SRE and Emb on part-time basis are Tomlinson, Koren, Cleveland and Fisher. Group will be coordinated to avoid duplication of contacts and reporting and special care will be taken for US officials to remain in background. We would expect that interested Eur officials and Parliamentarians will soon recognize this group as informal point of contact with US in same way as observer relationship was established with Schuman Plan. These plans may have to be adjusted of course once decisions are taken on respective participation of govt officials and Parliamentarians in EPC discussions.

We continue to be concerned, however, with facts that Fr and other govts are proceeding in negots on EPC without consulting us in any way. Decisions to be taken on procedures and substance EPC proposals could have very important repercussions, not only on timing on EDC and contractuals and also on public attitude toward them and decisions may in addition lead to need for basic changes in contractuals themselves. Leaving procedures for US observing and reporting aside, we must find appropriate ways to participate directly with govts concerned on matters importantly affecting our policies toward Ger, Eur and Atlantic communities before decisions are taken by them.

Fr–Ital memo⁴ to give CSC assembly responsibility for drafting treaty for polit community is definitely to be discussed at Luxembourg Council of Mins meeting. No one seems to be very pleased about Fr–Ital memo, but to our knowledge no official attempts have been made to modify it as a basis for discussion.

We have not discussed question of US observer relationship even informally with Eur dels. We understand that Dutch attitude may be rather negative toward taking any action in the polit field at this time, and that they will press Fr for commitment that econ integration must take place along with polit integration. Brit has also sent a new memo to each govt about Eden proposals which seems in conflict with Monnet’s conversations with Brit in London and in Lux. We will cable separately on these two developments.⁵

SRE concurs.

Achilles

1. Repeated to London, Bonn, Rome, Brussels, The Hague, and Luxembourg.
2. Supra.
3. Document 85.
4. For the text of this memorandum, see Document 86.
5. No telegram was found reporting on the Dutch attitude toward integration; a report concerning the British memorandum, which was given to Hallstein on Sept. 5, was sent to the Department of State in telegram 1452 from Paris, Sept. 7. (740.00/9–752)