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

850.33/5–1354: Telegram

No. 218
The United States Representative to the European Coal and Steel Community (Bruce) to the Department of State¹

limited official use

Paris, May 13, 1954—6 p.m.

Coled 240. Subject: European Coal and Steel Community.

1. Annual meeting of Common Assembly² opened Tuesday and unanimously elected De Gasperi as President to succeed Spaak. Italian observers believe De Gasperi’s election will greatly enhance his prestige in Italy and might make it possible for him to speed up drive for EDC ratification in Italy.

2. Monnet reported yesterday on developments of last year. He emphasized Common Market has become reality without leading to catastrophic economic effects foretold by some critics. He promised energetic action against existing cartel organizations and excessive concentrations including possibly Charbonnages de France. He assured several times that labor interests being protected and outlined measures to this effect including allocation 25 million dollars for workers’ housing out of US loan. He described American loan as manifestation of political and economic credit of community. No further details given as to lending policy of High Authority. Discussion on report begins today.

3. Have returned this morning to Paris in view Saar discussions between French and Germans scheduled for today.³ Plan to be in Strasbourg for Council of Ministers meeting next Tuesday.

Bruce

1. Repeated to London, Bonn, Rome, The Hague, Brussels, and Luxembourg.
2. The Second Ordinary Session of the Common Assembly of the European Coal and Steel Community met in Strasbourg, May 11–19. This series of meetings was followed by the first part of the Sixth Ordinary Session of the Consultative Assembly of the Council of Europe, which met in Strasbourg May 20–29; both assemblies held a joint meeting on May 20–21. For a record of the meetings of the Consultative Assembly, see Minutes of Proceedings (Strasbourg, 1954) and Official Report of Debates (Strasbourg, 1954). A summary of the joint meeting of the Common Assembly and Consultative Assembly was transmitted to the Department of State in despatch 237 from Strasbourg, May 21. (740.00/5–2154)
3. For documentation concerning Saar negotiations, see vol. v, Part 2, pp. 1370 ff.