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

740.00/2–2753: Telegram

No. 156
The United States Representative to the European Coal and Steel Community (Bruce) to the Department of State¹

confidential
priority

Paris, February 27, 1953—4 p.m.

Coled 3. Subject is European Political Community.

1. Ministers had before them two suggestions on procedure for handling EPC after March 10. Letter from Spaak had invited ministers to attend closing meeting Ad Hoc Assembly March 10 to receive treaty. Spaak also suggested that treaty then be considered directly by ministers themselves in collaboration with leading members of Ad Hoc Assembly, as prelude to signature by governments. De Gasperi suggested joint meeting of ministers and parliamentarians to consider not substance but procedure to be followed. Italians also suggested that way might be found to present treaty informally to National Parliaments of six member states in order to arouse parliamentary interest and support and obtain reactions before treaty approved in final form by governments.

2. Benelux Ministers voiced immediate opposition to Spaak and De Gasperi proposals. They were in general supported by Bidault. Van Zeeland was particularly emphatic; he repeatedly referred to Ad Hoc Assembly as a “study group” and apparently suggested that their conclusions should be forwarded to Ministers through Secretariat of council. Conclusions would have standing, in his view, as a basis for discussion, and treaty to be signed by governments could only be drawn up by traditional diplomatic conference. Benelux Ministers emphasized that certain provisions of EDC treaty were already known to be in conflict with views of governments. Bidault stated he could not be in Strasbourg on tenth, as Quai d’Orsay had scheduled visit of Turkish Prime Minister to Paris on that date. Refusal of Spaak’s invitation was averted only by strong speech from Adenauer, pointing out that Foreign Ministers had taken responsibility of setting leading parliamentarians work for six months on this treaty, and should give proper weight and consideration to their conclusions. Ministers finally agreed to come to Strasbourg on March 9.

3. No decision whatever was taken on subsequent procedure. In face of determined opposition from Van Zeeland to meeting with parliamentarians, Adenauer insisted that Ministers should at least “take a cup of tea with them.” It was left that informal joint meeting would probably be held in Strasbourg to discuss further procedures.

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Bruce

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1. Repeated to London, Bonn, Brussels, The Hague, Rome, and Luxembourg.