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

740.00/5–2452: Telegram

No. 40
The Ambassador in Sweden (Butterworth) to the Department of State¹

confidential

Stockholm, May 24, 1952—3 p.m.

1354. Re Deptel 1435 of May 22 rptd London 636, Strasbourg 65,² this Emb has not recd Strasbourg’s tel 143 to Dept³ presumably because it was pouched to Stockholm.

Emb fully agrees with assumption set forth final sentence Deptel 1435. FonMin Unden and PriMin Erlander have made statements over past fortnight indicating rather firm opposition to Eden plan as it concerns EDC, but this largely in order to keep Swed’s position as a mil neutral clear on the public record and to improve Swed’s tactical position during Strasbourg discussions. As my Brit colleague stated (see Embdes 880, April 30⁴), “there is a good deal of bluff in the Swed Govt’s expressed concern over Mr. Eden’s proposal”. At the same time Swed has been distressed by the proposal to extent that it has brought Swed’s internatl position into limelight, has provoked a good deal of criticism in Swed of govt “inability to keep the people informed”, and may have roused some genuine Swed concern that, even if Eden proposal does not establish a formal link between EDC and CE, it is thin edge of entering wedge and subsequent moves may be made to link the two orgs in a manner Swed cld not accept.

For the moment Swed’s efforts at Strasbourg wld seem to be directed at postponing and delaying a decision on this question, yet attended by a willingness to find a formula. Such a formula shld not be difficult to find, particularly if it does not involve an alteration [of] the statute of the Council. But even if the statute were altered Swed, wld be no less anxious to remain associated somehow with the Council and wld probably find its way clear for doing so.

Butterworth

1. Repeated to London, Paris, and Strasbourg.
2. Not printed; it requested that the Embassy inform the Department of State of further details concerning the Swedish position on the “Eden proposal.” (740.5/5–2152)
3. Not printed; it reported various reactions in Sweden to the “Eden proposal,” including the text of a newspaper article and a summary of several conversations with officials in Stockholm. (740.00/4–3052)
4. Not printed.