Camp files, lot 55 D 105, “CSC—1952”
No. 143
Memorandum of Conversation, by the
Special Assistant to the Secretary of State (Kitchen)
Participants:
- Mr. Monnet
- Mr. Acheson
The Secretary had another talk this evening with Mr. Jean Monnet. Mr. Monnetsaid that he had spoken with Von Brentano, a German, who was in town in connection with Schuman Plan matters and who was very close to Chancellor Adenauer and that Von Brentano had said that the line which Mr. Monnet had taken with the Secretary in the conversation yesterday was exactly the right line—i.e., he agreed that emphasis on the military aspect alone in any pronouncement or statement would result in an unfavorable action, whereas if a military aspect were integrated with a reference to other collective efforts in Western Europe there would not be the same undesirable result and that efforts at European integration would be aided.
Mr. Monnet then turned the conversation to the situation in Germany regarding EDC ratification and said that the matter was going to take time. Mr. Adenauer had got his Government into a bit of a jam by getting tangled up with the court matter and would not be able to press for ratification before the end of January, or perhaps February, and that he might even have to take several months after that before pressing for ratification. Mr. Monnetsaid that the United States had to understand that this process would take time but that it probably would come out all right in the end and we should not lose patience or interest. The Secretary said that the unfortunate aspect is that in the meantime there would be an adverse reaction in the United States. The Secretary believed it was essential in order to keep American attention on the development of European integration that positive accomplishments, such as the development of the Schuman Plan Authority as had been described to him the day before by Mr. Monnet, must be built up and played up to full advantage. He said the accomplishments of the Schuman Plan must be promoted and publicized in order that they would gain attention in American magazines and newspapers. The fact that the Schuman Plan Authority was going to announce the opening of the European market shortly; was preparing to announce the leveling of a tax in order to create a revolving fund for reinvestment; and that on the 10th of January there would be a [Page 257] meeting of the Assembly of the Schuman Plan must be well staged and promoted with a maximum of publicity. The Secretary said that it was highly desirable to gain the interest of such correspondents as Mrs. McCormick, Walter Kerr, Raymond Swing, and other prominent writers, and to get full play in American magazines such as Time, Newsweek, Life, Fortune, et cetera. He emphasized that the publicity and information must be geared to the American scene. Mr. Monnetsaid that he thought the idea was correct but he knew nothing about getting such an operation underway. He said he needed an adviser and wondered if George Ball might be useful. The Secretary said he didn’t know whether he could be, but that the Secretary would think it over and let Mr. Monnet know whom he considered might be a good person for this type of job.
(The Secretary asked me to inquire as to suitable names for suggestion to Mr. Monnet. I am discussing this with Helen Kirkpatrick and William R. Tyler, Public Affairs Officer at the Embassy here.)