850.33/11–1852: Telegram
No. 136
The Minister in Luxembourg (Mesta) to the Department of State1
93. From Tomlinson. Hill, European rep of Internatl Bank for Reconstruction and Development, suggested to Monnet that High Authority issue an invitation to Eugene Black to come to Luxembourg. Purpose would be to have preliminary talks on possibilities of World Bank providing financial assistance to Schuman Plan. Hill stressed that early talks were particularly desirable from viewpoint of public relations. World Bank anxious to demonstrate to Europeans its interest in their problems and its availability to assist them in their major endeavors.
After consultation with High Authority, Monnet replied to Hill that eventually High Authority would wish to talk “not just public relations but business”. However, a visit by Black at this time would cause considerable speculation on favorable prospects of High Authority for immediate financing and might give rise to considerable difficulties. Monnet explained that before talks could be [Page 239] useful High Authority must work up at least general lines of its own program so it knows where it stands. High Authority expects to have many claimants for investment funds and part of process of drawing up program will be to beat down their demands to reasonable figures. Talks with World Bank before reasonably firm figures can be discussed would encourage industries and governments to rely too heavily on High Authority for financing. Monnet concluded that not only would this result make immediate tasks of High Authority more difficult but excessive expectations would lead to disappointments later even if substantial financial assistance became available.
Monnet hopes, however, that he might see Black informally and quietly during his visit to Europe, perhaps in Paris.
- Repeated for action to Paris (SRE attention Draper) and for information to Bonn, London, The Hague, Brussels, and Rome.↩