850.33/7–2852: Telegram
No. 74
The Ambassador in the Netherlands
(Chapin)
to the Department of State1
137. In conversation with EmbOff today FonOff SecGen Boon described last week’s meeting Schuman Plan foreign ministers as a “complete failure”, and said even atmosphere had been “unpleasant”. French proposal for creation political authority was not included on agenda and although De Gasperi had originally suggested that it be discussed under “other business”, meeting broke up before topic was reached.
Boon continued that present caretaker govt does not consider itself qualified to determine Neth policy on political authority issue. Stikker personally opposes French suggestion not because he objects in principle to concept of Western European political federation or confederation, but rather on grounds that political authority must “come last not first” and that it would be premature to establish such authority in the absence of strong social, economic and financial foundations.
Boon also said that in Dutch view both Germans and French realize that EDC could not be ratified by their Parliaments as matters stand at present. Accordingly, French seeking to build political authority on basis Schuman Plan in thought that such development would create atmosphere conducive to ratification EDC. Speaking in his capacity as senior FonOff official, Boon did not believe this maneuver would be successful. In this connection the Dept will recall that Boon has been staunch advocate of EDC and therefore his remarks not considered to reflect desire his part that EDC should fail to come into being but rather concern what he believed to be French and German attempt to put cart before horse.
At conclusion conversation Boon said that Stikker extremely upset disappointing nature FonMin’s meeting referred to above and is gravely disturbed its implications for increased Western European cooperation. Boon is recommending that Stikker as one of his last acts as FonMin write Secretary a letter setting forth in detail his estimate of situation.
- Repeated to Paris, London, Bonn, Brussels, Rome, and Luxembourg.↩