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

740.00/3–2152: Telegram

No. 19
The Chargé in France (Bonsal) to the Department of State¹

confidential

Paris, March 21, 1952—8 p.m.

5778. High point of yesterday’s mtg of Comite of Ministers of Council of Europe, which wound up two day session (Embtel 5725, Mar 20²), was withdrawal by Chancellor Adenauer of Fed Rep request for discussion of Saar problem with his announcement that French and Fed Rep Govts shld reach agreement on method of settling controversy. Adenauer did not elaborate on agreement other than to indicate that French–German and Saar reps wld meet immediately to examine election conditions in Saar and that proposed settlement wld be referred for approval to US and UK and to Saar.

After dramatic interlude concerning Saar, CM resumed regular business which centered on discussion of “Eden plan” for integration of European institutions. Most of fifteen ministers expressed approval of broad principles proposed by Eden, commenting at same time on problems involved in carrying out proposal. Foreign Minister Unden expressed principal hesitancies, referring to desire of Sweden to avoid involvement in EDC. Eden replied that special arrangements cld probably be worked out whereby Sweden wld not participate in EDC matters much as UK, also due to its special position, might not participate in certain phases of reorganized C of E. Further details on statements of ministers will be reported by despatch.

CM did not formally approve or disapprove Eden proposal, but referred problem CM as suggested by Eden, to deputies. Deputies meet tomorrow to plan their work; indication is that they will meet in Strasbourg after Easter for about two weeks to start work on report on future of C of E to be discussed by CM at May 22 mtg. Hope is that plan will evolve which can be presented to Assembly which meets May 26.

CM postponed decision regarding formal request for advice of Assembly on EDC and European political authority until next mtg when EDC treaty might be in final form and development of Eden proposal might give new direction to discussion of European political authority. CM also postponed to next mtg consideration of their traditional political report to Assembly so that report wld take into account EDC and Eden proposal developments. Ministers signed protocol to C of E convention on human rights.

To relief of those who had seen indication of UK withdrawal from C of E, UK FonOff reassignment of Aubrey Halford before normal tour of duty expired, UK proposed and, after withdrawal of Dutch candidate, CM accepted Anthony Lincoln of UK FonOff for vacated post of deputy secretary general.

In summary, tenth session of CM generally followed previous patten whereby ministers approved number of ineffectual recommendations, but either rejected important Assembly recommendations or postponed important decisions. This is illustrated by fact that most important development was withdrawal of item from agenda. The possible exception was Eden’s proposal, which was made in rejection of Assembly recommendation for revised C of E statute, but which may result in reorganization whereby C of E, in Eden’s words, “wld be given valuable work to do.”³

Bonsal

1. Repeated to Bonn, London, Rome, Ankara, Athens, Brussels, Copenhagen, Dublin, The Hague, Luxembourg, Oslo, Reykjavik, Stockholm, and Strasbourg.
2. Document 13.
3. A summary of the Tenth Session of the Committee of Ministers, including the draft minutes and the draft official report, was transmitted to the Department of State in despatch 2765 from Paris, Apr. 18. (740.00/4–1852)