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

740.00/9–1352: Telegram

No. 105
The Consul at Strasbourg (Andrews) to the Department of State¹

restricted

Strasbourg, September 13, 1952—3 p.m.

58. From Tomlinson. Subj is first session of CSC Assembly.²

1. Under section 6 of transitional convention, task of first session was to elect officers and adopt rules of procedure. Session was based on draft rules of procedure prepared by Blamont’s comite. This remarkably comprehensive doc, which contained not only ordinary rules of procedure in use by Eur natl agrmts, but also number of special provisions required by treaty, provided focus for debates entire session. In its preamble particular emphasis was placed on importance maintaining sovereignty of Assembly within field of its competence and “absolute independence and autonomy in its constitution and functioning, both with regard to other institutions of community and any other natl or internatl body.”

This theme was taken up again and again in course of debates.

2. First session was opened by oldest member acting as temporary Pres—Baggiano-Pico. His opening remark emphasized that this was first Eur Assembly with real powers, he paid homage Schuman, Adenauer, De Gasperi, Monnet and Sforza; and defended Counc of Eur, maintaining that it had not been entirely sterile because it had helped give birth to CSC.

3. Assembly appointed credentials comite and officially seated all members after verification.

4. Assembly then appointed 9-man rules comite and charged it with immed action on rules covering election of officers so as to permit immed election. Some objection was made to comite proposal for five vice-presidents on grounds that assuring one officer for each natl del was contrary to supra-national character of this Assembly, but proposal was carried. Term of first officers will expire May 1953.

5. Spaak and Von Brentano (Ger CDU leader) were only candidates for Pres. Dementhon, who had originally sought job, withdrew early in session, apparently because of criticism that one man cld not hold presidency of both CSC Assembly and Consultative Assembly. This decision may also have been influenced by fear he wld get little support outside of Fr del, and that by splitting vote which wld otherwise go to Spaak, his candidacy wld result in Brentano’s election.

Spaak defeated Brentano for Pres on first ballot by 38 votes to 30. While voting was secret and no accurate breakdown is therefore available, comments of members suggest fol breakdown: Spaak had support of Socialists, including Ger, and majority of center and right non-Catholic grps (Liberals, Ital Republicans, etc), as well as of entire Fr del. Brentano’s support came almost entirely from Catholic parties which voted for him in a block (with exception of Fr). Ital Catholics, who are most ardent federalists in Assembly, only supported Brentano because of firm instructions from De Gasperi. Despite these instrs, Spaak apparently recd one or two of their votes, as well as one Ger CDU (Gerstenmaier), except for Fr dels split was in gen along party and not natl lines. Fr natl opposition to Brentano was apparently based on three considerations:

a. While Fr would have been willing to accept Ger as Pres Assembly whose functions limited to coal and steel, they did not want a Ger Pres of ad hoc Assembly charged with preparing draft of treaty for Eur Polit community.

b. Brentano’s recent speech on Saar problem further reduced his personal acceptability to Fr for this task.

c. Spaak’s election is symbolic of federalist approach and is interpreted as meaning ad hoc Assembly will proceed along lines of policies advocated by Spaak in Consultative Assembly of Council of Europe.

Ger coalition grp has been disappointed because they hoped to have Ger hold one of high offices of CSC community. They are especially annoyed at their social demo compatriots whose votes were decisive.

6. Spaak took chair immed after election.

Following five candidates for vice-pres were elected without opposition: Hermann Puender (Ger CDU) 61 votes; Pierre-Henriteitgen (Fr MRP) 57 votes; George Vixseboxse (Dutch Christian Historical) 56 votes; Allesande Ocasate (Ital Liberal) 49 votes; Jean Fohrmann (Lux Socialist) 42 votes. With seating of vice-pres, Assembly was declared under Eur practice officially constituted.

7. Assembly then heard speeches by Monnet and Adenauer reported in previous messages.³ Each again emphasized significance of mission of Assembly’s tasks first sovereign Eur Assembly on supra-national basis.

8. Most of Thurs and Friday sessions were devoted to discussion and adoption of rules of procedure. As Blamont’s comite had suggested, Assembly concentrated on rules which were necessary for its immed functioning at this and January session. Certain important questions requiring more study were assigned to a new rules comite which is to report to second session of Assembly in January.

Matters reserved include problems of how long preliminary mandate of members is to last, procedure for handling motion of censure against high auth, modification of means of application of treaty (Art 95 of treaty) and immunities of reps. Draft prepared by Blamont’s comite was adopted with few important changes. Most of changes were in the direction of strengthening independence of Assembly vis-à-vis other orgs, in particular High Auth and council. Most of discussion on rules centered around proposal by rules comite to create a single gen comite to deal with High Auth and other outside orgs. Considerable sentiment was shown for immed establishment of a number of comites charged with specific tasks. However, after long discussion it was agreed to postpone settlement of comite problem until January meeting and appoint a temporary 23-man gen comite to act between now and January. Division of members on gen comite will be: France, Ger, and Ital five each; Belgium and Neths three each; Lux two. It was agreed that temporary 9-man rules comite would continue and also act as accounts comite to prepare first budget of assembly.

Andrews

1. Repeated to Paris, London, Bonn, Rome, Brussels, The Hague, and Luxembourg.
2. The official records of the first session of the Schuman Plan Common Assembly, which met in Strasbourg Sept. 10–13, were transmitted to the Department of State in despatch 2 from Luxembourg, Sept. 29. (850.33/9–2952)
3. A summary and excerpts from Monnet’s speech and a translation of Adenauer’s speech were transmitted to the Department of State in telegrams 54 and 55 from Strasbourg, Sept. 12 and 13, respectively. (740.00/9–1252 and 9–1352) The complete text of Monnet’s speech was published by the Coal and Steel Community in a phamphlet entitled Speeches delivered by Monsieur Jean Monnet (September 1952); a copy of this phamphlet is in Bruce Mission files, lot 57 M 38, “Monnet Speeches.”