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

740.5/10–2152: Telegram

No. 126
The Deputy United States Special Representative in Europe (Anderson) to the Department of State¹

confidential

Paris, October 21, 1952—9 p.m.

Polto 500. Re Luxembourg 52 October 19.² Subject is CSC.

Monnet called Tomlinson October 18 to provide copy of letter to Sir Cecil Weir forwarded in reference telegram and to explain background of letter. Monnet stated he and Etzel, Vice President of High Authority, had arranged for dinner with Weir the previous evening to exchange general views. However, Weir quickly turned conversation to concrete questions. Weir said his government understood High Authority was about to convoke a number of committees to work on investments, production, markets and so on, and asked if it was intention of High Authority to invite British delegation to participate as members of these committees.

Monnet said he replied immediately that High Authority wished to consider all these matters jointly with British delegation but that it was not intended to invite British delegation to participate in these particular committees for reasons which were quite obvious. In first place, committees were to be composed of personages from government, industrial, and labor circles acting in a private capacity. Second, committees are to advise High Authority on tasks confided to High Authority in CSC Treaty which gives sovereign powers to Community in coal and steel matters. Obviously, High Authority wished to be guided by advice of committees but, also, High Authority on occasions would find itself in a position where it would in exercise of its responsibility feel compelled to modify or even to act contrary to advice of committees. Monnet said he could easily envisage a situation in which members of British delegation could not avoid appearance of intervening in internal affairs of High Authority by having supported in discussions advice of committees which was not followed by High Authority. Monnet underlined to Weir that such a development could involve both High Authority and British delegation in most unfortunate consequences.

According to Monnet, Weir accepted this view and replied that in any event British Government and industry were vitally interested in these matters, for example, the investment policies that would be adopted by CSC. In subsequent conversation it was agreed that High Authority would find it useful and in best interests of Community to provide full information to British delegation on CSC plans and policies, and that in turn British Government would provide High Authority with same information on coal and steel industries in United Kingdom. In order to accomplish this exchange of information and provide a forum for a frank and full exchange of views, the proposal previously discussed with Weir of forming a joint committee was decided upon. Monnet said Weir, of course, agreed that this arrangement should not by any means be accepted as final form of association. As additional experience was obtained it would be possible to develop other forums perhaps providing for fuller mutual participation in governing processes of coal and steel industries of UK and CSC. Monnet said he stressed to Weir that obligations must be accepted as well as privileges and that perhaps through some form of mutual treaty obligations it would be found both desirable and possible to go considerably farther.

Monnet then confirmed his conversation with Weir on question of UK Parliamentary observers having right to speak at CSC Assembly. Monnet said he told Weir he could not understand what British Government wished to obtain by repeatedly returning to these proposals. He recalled for Weir how jealously British have guarded their own sovereignty in discussions on CSC, EDC and Council of Europe. He asked Weir how British in view of this attitude could explain their propositions that individuals responsible to no one for their actions and not even citizens of the Community should have right to participate in exercise of sovereignty by peoples making up the Community. The observers apparently were to accept no obligations in connection with their privilege and apparently could not even be held accountable as expressing the views of their own governments. According to Monnet, Weir did not attempt to reply. Monnet told Weir High Authority wished to know what British Government wished to obtain by repeatedly returning to these proposals and asked Weir to prevail on London not to push them further. Monnet stressed that considerable difficulties would be created for CSC and all concerned if High Authority were forced to take a public position. Monnet told Tomlinson that he believed Weir was in full sympathy with High Authority’s position in this matter.

Although Monnet is urging that nothing be done about this question at the moment, he also recognizes that High Authority may be called upon to take a position suddenly. Accordingly, he has asked his legal staff to prepare a paper from High Authority to CSC Council of Ministers underlining necessity of association with British and possibly suggesting useful lines of exploration while at same time emphasizing undesirable and illegal aspects of proposal for participating observers from Council of Europe countries in CSC institutions.

Anderson

1. Repeated to London, Bonn, Luxembourg, Rome, Brussels, The Hague, and Strasbourg.
2. Not printed; it transmitted the text of a letter from Monnet to Weir, dated Oct. 18, concerning the possible establishment of a joint committee made up of representatives from the Coal and Steel Community and the United Kingdom. (850.33/10–1952)