No. 203
Editorial Note
Following his meeting with Secretary of State Dulles in Berlin, Jean Monnet, President of the High Authority of the European Coal and Steel Community, wrote a letter to Dulles dated February 13 concerning their discussion and enclosing a draft of a communiqué which confirmed United States support of the Community and noted the beginning of negotiations in Washington in March. (850.33/2–1354) On February 19, Dulles responded to Monnet’s letter by recommending that the proposed communiqué be shortened and that paragraphs with controversial matters be removed. Dulles suggested that while the negotiations would begin with the knowledge that funds would in fact be available, that availability should not be announced beforehand. (850.33/2–1354) According to telegram Coled 148 from Paris, February 19, Monnet accepted Dulles’ recommendations about the press release and agreed to issue the press release on February 21 at 10 a.m. (Washington time) in Washington and Luxembourg. (850.33/2–1954) For the text of this press release, see Department of State Bulletin, March 1, 1954, page 327.
On March 19, David Bruce sent a formal letter to Monnet inviting him to send a delegation to Washington to begin negotiations concerning a loan. Monnet accepted the invitation the same day. During the following week, arrangements were made between the High Authority and the Department of State concerning the details of the negotiations which it was agreed would begin on Tuesday, April 6. (Bruce Mission files, lot 57 M 38, “US Loan Negotiations”)