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

850.33/10–1652: Telegram

No. 123
The Ambassador in France (Dunn) to the Department of State

secret

Paris, October 16, 1952—9 p.m.

2358. Subject is relations of CSC, EDC and EPC with Council of Europe. Ref Depcirtel 405, Oct 10¹ and Polto 380, Sept 30.² This is part 2 of 3 part message.

We wished to demonstrate by part 1 of this msg³ that question of observers at CSC assembly is not, at bottom, a pro-British or anti-Brit issue, although unfortunately this is the way it is most widely interpreted. Actually, all responsible reps of CSC nations most strongly desire to work out closest possible concrete and practical association with British.

1. Fol discussion of motives of those approving CE assembly opinion which is confusing and impracticable in many respects, may be useful as background info to recipients Depcirtel.

a. Desire to maintain maximum “unity” of free Europe, to avoid appearance of division arising from fact that “the six” in CSC ready to accept supranational institutions, that “the nine” others in CE not ready to accept. This applies to delegates both of six and of nine. In some cases it probably contributed to favorable votes of individuals who had not thought through real meaning of text in terms of relations with a supranational institution. They were animated by desire keep friendly contacts with CSC and other communities in prospect, but were merely groping for means and in absence any other concrete suggestions clutched at idea attractive to parliamentarians of relations between respective assemblies through “observers.”

b. Desire to associate nonmembers, particularly UK with communities, out of fear as to where German (and/or Catholic) domination might lead them. This fear applied less to CSC than to EDC and EPC, but those animated by it recognized that pattern likely be set by institutional relations with CSC and hence insisted on all possible “organic links.” This motive present in minds some dels of six (notably Mollet) carried so far that it outweighed allegiance to supranational principle and independence of communities.

c. Genuine desire to be helpful and belief that countries other than the six, if given some chance at participation, cld make communities work better for themselves and for Europe, although British and other protestations to this effect are not entirely at their face value.

d. Unabashed belief that, supranational or not, the community of six cld not be treated like any European sovereign state because it was too big and important. With particular ref to CSC, this was expressed on floor of assembly only by Lord Layton, who declared that all CE countries were interested in CSC policies as consumers and possessors of finishing industries and that it was therefore “right, although it may appear illogical,” that nonmembers shld have observers in CSC assembly able to speak even in debate on “sacking” High Authority. Little doubt, however, that others besides Lord Layton held this view. This attitude certainly is a cause for worry on part reps of CSC institutions and is hardly consistent with UK FonOff brushing aside fears of High Authority as “nonsense.” (See London tel 2619 [2169] to Dept Oct 14.⁴)

e. Advisory nature of consultative assembly permitted many dels to vote for resolution without feeling bound by it; everyone was very anxious not to appear as being in opposition to idea of association with British. Dels were also influenced by speeches of British dels emphasizing that opinion left matter in hands of CSC nations and all suggestions were subject to negotiation. Most of the responsible opposition also absented themselves.

2. Importance British Govt role in Strasbourg text and vote incontrovertible, but ultimate British objective not so clear.

a. Proposals for associating CE with CSC and other communities were first drafted in British FonOff, were proposed by Eden to CE Comite of Ministers, and supported first by Nutting, Parliamentary Under Secretary for Foreign Affairs, and then by Eden himself before Strasbourg assembly. Amery, British Conservative, became rapporteur on draft opinion for General Affairs Comite. Eden proposals have been substantially modified since initially presented and British continue to stress that they are very flexible, shld be worked out gradually and shld not interfere with independence of “supranational” institutions.

b. Eden proposals, and text as voted Sept 30, apparently were meant to complement, not contradict, association of UK with CSC establised through del led by Sir Cecil Weir to High Authority in Luxembourg. Nutting told assembly on Sept 30, “British Govt’s view, which Mr. Eden and I last May put to this assembly, has consistently been that for our part we wish to extend diplomatic and technical links which we have already established with CSC, and we hope later to establish with other communities, to ministerial and parliamentary fields.” (This intention not always understood in Luxembourg, where High Authority considered British Govt activities at Strasbourg double-crossing CSC by reversing agreement that association with CSC was to be worked out gradually by UK Govt del, with consequent embarrassment to Weir. See Polto 380, Oct 1 [September 30]. High Authority considers UK to have been uncooperative in their recent actions in OEEC, GATT and Strasbourg.)

d. [sic] British FonOff admits that it has come “reluctantly” to accept idea of strong supranational grouping of the six. There seems no reason to doubt British Govt assertions that it does not desire subordinate supranational CSC or other communities to intergovernmental CE. At same time, as individual country, UK appears be seeking institutionalizing of links through C of E whereby it cld strongly influence actions and policies of communities of the six without engaging itself in mutual undertaking.

Dunn

1. See footnote 6, Document 118.
2. See footnote 5, ibid.
3. Document 121.
4. Not printed; it informed the Department of State of British views on the role of observers in the Coal and Steel Community Assembly and its related committees. (850.33/10–1452)