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

740.5/4–353: Telegram

No. 164
The Ambassador in the Netherlands (Chapin) to the Department of State¹

secret

The Hague, April 3, 1953—9 a.m.

1302. Reference Embtel 1301.² In afternoon session which Bruce and I had with Beyen and Luns, which lasted nearly another hour and a half, and which was called ostensibly to discuss EPC, Beyen concentrated almost exclusively on Dutch proposal for European economic integration. He led off with a long, diffuse philosophical discourse on Dutch belief that economic integration of Europe should go hand in hand with political integration. Beyen first indicated Dutch considered that some action on economic integration of six member countries such as a tariff community which would apply to all products, industrial or agricultural, was essential for Dutch support of EPC. Subsequently, however, he stated Dutch Government would not oppose EPC alone and indicated Dutch might be content for time being with adoption some resolution nodding in direction of economic integration and perhaps appointment of ad hoc inter-governmental committee to study matter. Beyen said it was hope of Dutch Government that if tariff community could be set up for six nations this would be one which could be adhered to by other individual European nations in due course. However, he stated modalities for such action together with other important details had, of course to be worked out. It apparent from general discussion that such basic considerations as conversions of currencies, compensation to marginal producers, handling of displaced labor groups and other important matters that thinking of Dutch Government itself with regard to proposed tariff community was only in its inception.

Bruce developed some detail attitude other EDC countries toward EPC and his feeling that EPC and EDC were no longer necessarily tied together in eyes of French and Germans, to which two Foreign Ministers agreed.

In an hour’s conversation prior to our meeting with Beyen and Luns, Mansholt, Minister of Agriculture, had already set forth his feelings with regard to Green Pool³ and his belief that nations now discussing possibility such pool were proceeding on wrong basis since they were attempting for selfish reasons discuss only certain principal commodities rather than attack problem as whole. It apparent from other remarks Mansholt made that, naturally as member of Dutch Cabinet, he was approaching question of European agricultural integration on same basis as that set forth by Beyen for total European economic integration.

Chapin

1. Repeated to Rome, Bonn, Paris, London, Luxembourg, and Brussels.
2. Not printed; it reported on the morning meeting between Bruce, Chapin, Beyen, Luns, and Staf, which dealt entirely with Dutch ratification efforts of the EDC Treaty and U.S. efforts to accelerate that ratification. (740.5/4–353)
3. For documentation concerning Green Pool developments, see Documents 235 ff.