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

740.00/3–2254: Telegram

No. 205
The United States Representative to the European Coal and Steel Community (Bruce) to the Department of State¹

confidential

Paris, March 22, 1954—noon.

Coled 203. Second month of discussions in Paris of six-country committee for European Political Community has accomplished nothing to change judgments contained Coled 145.² Although committee produced a report over 200 pages long, it adds little of substance to Rome agreements six months ago and on a number of points represents a step backward since Rome.³ On major questions of substance, report limits itself to setting forth disagreements.

We are forwarding today by despatch a summary of committee report and pouching one French copy of report itself to Department attention Moore.⁴ In view probability indefinite postponement Brussels Ministers’ meeting (Coled 196⁵) no new developments are to be expected in this field unless French Government should decide take some action on Socialist demands for democratic control of European Army.

Bruce

1. Repeated to London, Bonn, The Hague, Brussels, Rome, and Luxembourg.
2. Document 199.
3. This is a reference to the Rome Conference on the European Political Community, Sept. 22–Oct. 9, 1953; for information concerning the conference, see Document 178.
4. The despatch under reference is Coled D–96 from Paris, Mar. 21, 1954, not printed. (740.00/3–2154)
5. Not printed; it informed the Department of State that the French Government desired to postpone the Brussels meeting scheduled for Mar. 30. According to an officer in the Italian Embassy, the underlying reason for this action was Laniel’s and Bidault’s wish to avoid pressure on them to give Mollet any satisfaction on progress relating to the European Political Community. (740.5/3–1954)