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

740.00/10–2952: Telegram

No. 131
The Ambassador in France (Dunn) to the Department of State¹

secret

Paris, October 29, 1952—8 p.m.

2638. Subj is Eur polit community.

1. Constitutional comite of ad hoc Assembly on EPC concluded second session in Paris yesterday.² Number of comite members have expressed satisfaction at work accomplished and at atmosphere, which was apparently excellent. They have pointed especially to fact that unanimous comite, including Ger members voted to locate future work in Paris despite previous preference of Gers for Brussels and strong lobbying for Belgian capital by Council of Eur people on secretariat. Most comite members not inclined to take Guy Mollet’s refusal participate in subcomites too seriously for present (see separate cable this subject³).

2. Purpose this session was to agree on rules and on future work program. Although certain substantive issues were raised in connection with discussion of work program, no attempt was made to settle them at this time. Work program finally adopted (text by despatch) did not differ substantially from that transmitted in despatch No. 10 of Oct 17 from USRep CSC Lux.⁴

3. As reported Embtels 2525, Oct 24⁵ and 2572, Oct 25,⁶ comite has thrown doors open to observers from Council of Eur countries and reps of member govts and of High Authority. Invitation to High Authority rep considered particularly significant as recognition by comite of High Authority as sovereign entity whose interests closely affected by comite’s work. High Authority has appointed its secretary Kohnstamm to represent it in this connection. Observers have expressed pleasure at invitation to subcomite mtgs.

4. As reported Embtel 2599, Oct 28,⁷ comite established four main subcomites, which will work in Paris during November, early December and report to third session of full comite around Dec 15. Intervening month before second session of ad hoc Assembly (around Jan 15) will be used for consideration of comite proposals by interested parliamentarians and Govts. Comite members hope that this schedule will permit completion of draft EPC treaty for final approval before Mar 10 deadline.

5. Work of four subcomites will be coordinated by enlarged working group composed of officers of comite and of subcomites with two addit members. Members expect this “steering comite” to play important role in pulling together work of subcomites, although its size may hinder effectiveness.

6. On suggestion of Fr member Mutter, comite also established special subcomite on info and propaganda composed of constitutional comite officers plus Mutter, Semler (German CSU) and Braun (Saar rep). In private conversation, Semler stressed importance arousing more public interest in constitutional comite and other specific bodies working towards Eur unity. Although unity ideal has strong appeal to popular imagination, especially among youth, he said, actual burden of work in postwar Eur unity movement has been carried by some 200 individuals, mostly active parliamentarians, who are consequently spread very thin. Active propaganda work cld help meet this problem of drawing more people and interest into the movement. (Same motivation is apparently behind recent proposals for reorganization of Eur movement under Spaak to engage in direct propaganda and political action.)

7. Based on conversations with participants, fol appear to have been highlights of substantive discussions:

a. There was apparently gen agreement that structure of EPC shld include bicameral Parliament, of which one house elected directly. Other institutional problems not discussed in detail. De Housse as rapporteur of institutional subcomite intends to give vigorous support to a supranational structure similar to that provided in Federalist resolutions (Embtels 2087 and 2088 of Oct 5⁸), and expects to have support of subcomites chairman Teitgen.

b. Major issue still appears to be extent of community’s powers, with most Fr reps opposing new grants of sovereignty in EPC treaty. Subcomite chairman Blaisse (Dutch Catholic), who has been most insistent supporter of extension EPC powers into econ field, hopes that satisfactory compromise can be reached in subcomite.

c. Apparently in hopes of mollifying Mollet, Itali del Azara introduced motion calling for immed Eur elections along lines described para 1 Embtel 2495, Oct 23.⁹ There was very little support for idea in that form, however, and Azara’s motion was quietly referred to subcomite when it became apparent that Mollet was not prepared to cooperate on these terms.

d. Early during session Debre (Gaullist) submitted sweeping proposal for union of Eur states containing detailed specifications of institutions and powers. This motion not seriously discussed in view gen feeling that its only purpose was to enable him to oppose any less far-reaching proposals on grounds they did not go far enough.

e. In his opening speech, Teitgen (Fr MRP leader) raised potentially troublesome question participation overseas territories. He stated that Fr Republic, as participant in movement for Eur polit union, consisted indivisibly of the metropole, the overseas depts and the overseas territories. There was, therefore, no question of a Eur union in which only metropolitan Fr wld participate. These sentiments appeared to have gen support of other Fr dels present.

Dunn

1. Repeated to London, Bonn, Rome, The Hague, Brussels, and Luxembourg for USRep CSC.
2. Regarding the formation of the Constitutional Committee, see Document 109. The agenda of the second session of the Constitutional Committee, which met in Paris Oct. 23–28, was transmitted to the Department of State in telegram 2488 from Paris, Oct. 22. (740.00/10–2252)
3. This is a reference to telegram 2672 from Paris, Oct. 30, not printed. (740.00/10–3052)
4. Despatch 10 from Luxembourg, Oct. 17, transmitted the text of the draft work program prepared by a working group of the Constitutional Committee. (850.33/10–1752)
5. Not printed; it transmitted to the Department of State the text of the resolution concerning the role of observers approved by the Constitutional Committee. (740.5/10–2452)
6. Not printed; it reported on the opening meeting of the Constitutional Committee on Oct. 23. (740.00/10–2552) The minutes of this first meeting of the second session of the Constitutional Committee were transmitted to the Department of State in despatch 903 from Paris, Oct. 27. (740.00/10–2752)
7. Not printed; it informed the Department of State concerning the names of the officers and members appointed to the various subcommittees of the Constitutional Committee. (740.00/10–2852)
8. Neither printed; both reported on the meetings of the European Federalist Movement held in Brussels and on the resolutions which they adopted. (740.00/10–552)
9. Not printed; it informed the Department of State of a proposal which the French Delegation to the Constitutional Committee intended to introduce concerning the direct popular election of a European Assembly. (740.00/10–2352)