740.00/11–2153: Telegram
No. 182
The Secretary of
State to the Office of the United
States Representative to the European Coal and Steel
Community, at Paris1
Edcol 54. Our immediate and primary objective in relation forthcoming Hague EPC meeting2 is sufficient agreement on EPC to permit ratification of the EDC. In addition, we would hope for results on certain points at issue in line with longer run US interests. Consider negotiations on EDC and EPC have reached stage at which US influence highly desirable to obtain basic objective, and favorable decision on question at issue. Toward this end, suggest Bruce personally attend Hague meeting.
- 1.
- As we read text Rome Conference on European Political Community Treaty, three major issues emerge: popular election of European parliament; supranationality or strength and independence of Executive; and content and scope of new Community. On first question, agreement appears to have been reached in principle for popularly elected Assembly despite Dutch reservation. View importance this principle for ratification EDC, would be highly desirable if Hague communiqué highlighted agreement on this issue.
- 2.
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On other two issues, countries hold widely divergent views, with some indication retrogression from Draft Treaty. (Following comments do not reflect whatever alteration in French views may be emerging from current Assembly debate.)
a. Re Executive, considerable confusion appears exist on composition, powers, strength, independence, and relation to Council of Ministers and to CSC and EDC Executives. Concerned here over proposals which mix national and supranational elements and tend toward making these two components equal. Some indication also that certain dels, notably French, appear favor appointment not only of President by Council of Ministers, as provided Draft Treaty, [Page 330] but desire selection other Executive members by Ministers, thus significantly diluting supranationality of Community. At a minimum would be desirable seek clear separation of Executive and national elements, guarding against solutions which would equate the two and which might not only detract from role of EPC Executive to be added to existing Executives, but which might also weaken CSC and EDC Executives. German and Luxembourg dels appeared alert to this problem at Rome meeting, coming out for clear distinction between Executive and national elements and for establishment of separate strong EPC Executive.
- 3.
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With respect to economic powers of the EPC, it appears that all countries except France favor a transfer of authority to EPC going beyond that included in EDC or CSC. At other extreme from France is view of Dutch, who have indicated unwillingness agree to supranational EPC without inclusion such additional economic authority.
While our primary objective should be a sufficient agreement on EPC to permit ratification of EDC, there may be alternative bases for such agreement. If so, we should favor adoption of those which enhance the power of EPC to take action in achieving economic integration among its members—i.e., which avoid the necessity for additional treaties as a prerequisite for action on this front. Believe incorporation of economic powers would give Community possibilities for growth and development otherwise significantly lacking.
If agreement to be reached on vesting economic powers in EPC, assume it will require a degree of national control over the exercise these powers. Various procedures for insuring such control can be envisaged short of requirement of new treaties, and Ad Hoc Draft exemplifies some of principal lines in Article 83—i.e., (a) delay period before Community can exercise its economic powers; (b) interim period when action requires unanimous approval of Ministers, who may consult their Parliaments; (c) final period when action requires only approval of Ministers and EPC lower house by simple majority, but by ⅔ vote in Senate.
By varying the elements of national restraint in this proposal—the time period, and degree of unanimity required in EPC Parliament and Council of Ministers—a range of alternatives becomes available which would still give Community distinctive economic functions.
If economic powers continue to be stumbling block in reaching EPC agreement, would hope that these possibilities would be fully explored.
- 4.
- Essential that any insertion of US views into EPC discussion be consistent with and tend to promote overriding immediate objective of EDC ratification.