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

740.00/3–1253: Telegram

No. 162
The United States Representative to the European Coal and Steel Community (Bruce) to the Department of State¹

confidential

Paris, March 12, 1953—1 a.m.

Coled 31. Subject is European Political Community.

1. Ministers meeting in Strasbourg² under Bidault’s chairmanship was something of a fiasco. Van Zeeland was real obstruction, but because of Bidault’s attitude, blame was unanimously attributed to him. Advisers present say that Bidault arrived 40 minutes late, was ill-mannered; distorted and confused discussions intentionally; indulged in frivolity and bad jokes; and seemed to wish to be as disagreeable as possible. I understand that both Adenauer and De Gasperi left Strasbourg irritated and angry.

2. No mention was made of EDC treaty or ratification problems. Adenauer–Bidault talks on Saar were apparently without results except that Bidault concluded by stating he would like to talk to Hallstein about question in Paris. Ministers were only in Strasbourg Monday afternoon and evening.³

3. Van Zeeland, apparently motivated by fear of Spaak’s role, prevented any decision on further participation of members of Ad Hoc Assembly in development of EPC treaty. He insisted task of Ad Hoc Assembly was now completed and that it should be disbanded. He would admit that exact language of Article 38 of EDC treaty should be followed calling for a conference within three months to examine proposals made by Ad Hoc Assembly and that each government could consult its representation in Ad Hoc Assembly if it wished.

4. De Gasperi, Adenauer and Beyen, with De Gasperi taking the lead, managed to keep question open for continued participation by members Ad Hoc Assembly. They also pressed for immediate consideration by governments of Assembly’s proposals and succeeded in imposing a decision for Council of Ministers to meet again in Luxembourg on May 12. This was only positive decision of entire meeting.

5. Purpose of May 12 meeting is very uncertain. De Gasperi, Adenauer and Beyen believed Ministers had also agreed: (a) that each government would forward comments to Secretary of the Council of Ministers to prepare for the May 12 meeting; (b) that May 12 meeting would discuss substance of proposals and not just date of conference; and (c) that procedure to permit participation of members of Ad Hoc Assembly would be decided. This understanding was later brought in doubt when agreement could not be reached on communiqué to press.

6. Members of Ad Hoc Assembly in general are very irritated by off-hand treatment received from Ministers and interpret prudent speech of Bidault as rebuff. Very few are satisfied with explanation that Bidault, because of Mollet’s opposition to Ad Hoc Assembly’s work, had to be cautious in hope of obtaining future ratification French Socialist support for European army treaty. Members of Ad Hoc Assembly are determined to continue and to conduct a strong Campaign for adoption of their draft treaty. Resolution in immediately following cables^3a submitted jointly by 19 members was carried unanimously and is first step in this Campaign. Ad Hoc Assembly is in a weak position because it must depend on governments for financing but presumably Parliamentarians will find a way around this problem.

Bruce

1. Repeated to London, Bonn, Rome, The Hague, Brussels, and Luxembourg (for Bruce).
2. The Foreign Ministers of France, Italy, the Federal Republic of Germany, Netherlands, Belgium, and Luxembourg met in Strasbourg on Mar. 9 to discuss developments relating to the European Political Community. In addition to this meeting, which is summarized in this telegram, a formal meeting was also held that same day during which Spaak made a symbolic presentation to the six Foreign Ministers of the draft treaty. The presentation was symbolic because action on the draft treaty was scheduled to be completed by the Ad Hoc Assembly on the following day, Mar. 10. For information concerning the work of the Ad Hoc Assembly, see the editorial note, supra.
3. Mar. 9.
4. This is a reference to telegram Coled 32 from Paris, Mar. 12, which transmitted to the Department of State the text of the resolution adopted unanimously by the Ad Hoc Assembly instructing the Constitutional Committee to keep in touch with governmental action on the draft treaty embodying the statute of the European Political Community. (740.00/3–1253)