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

740.5/8–1552: Telegram

No. 85
The Acting Secretary of State to the Embassy in France¹

secret

Washington, August 15, 1952—4 p.m.

Topol 88. For Amb and SRE. Cotel. Dept has reconsidered views expressed Deptel 567,² in light info contained Embtel 770³ which altered assumptions on which Dept’s earlier views based and in light conversations Merchant and Tomlinson. Fol comments concurred in by Merchant, MSA, and DMS.

With CSC in force we confirm that SRE now has responsibility for observation, reporting and representation to High Auth. As temporary measure concur in present SRE plan of keeping in touch with High Auth from Paris drawing on Emb resources as desirable and as approved by Amb Dunn. However as High Auth becomes increasingly operational it may be desirable for SRE estab small permanent staff in Lux to fol and report on developments.

Initially believe representational group shld be small but sufficiently high level so will have easy access to Monnet and others but do not believe rank at Amb or Min level desirable in early days.

If High Auth develops as we shld hope we wld foresee need for top-ranking person perhaps early next year. Believe by then it will be much easier to see how best formalize relationship with High Auth and also whether it will be possible pull together in one place various aspects of six country developments.

Problem will of course be simplified if as we hope High Auth does not locate permanently in Lux but an early decision taken to centralize majority of Schuman Plan and Eur Polit Community institutions in Saar.

In considering level, composition and lines of auth we believe it useful to consider US relationships in three time periods (a) the immed future (b) an interim period when we may have a mission established in Lux, but before it clear whether we will need have one mission in Lux, another in Strasbourg, or whether some consolidation will take place at one of these cities or in Saar, and (c) time when some consolidation of six-country orgs (ie, CSC, EDC, and Polit Community) occurs or at least when pattern of orgs and locations sufficiently clear that more permanent arrangements can be made.

So far as communications concerned we do not believe question of new arrangements arises in time period (a) since we assume individuals keeping in touch with High Auth will not be located in Lux but will spend day or two at time there and will communicate for most part through usual SRE channels in Paris. Any urgent msg cld of course be dispatched from Leg. We wld suggest these msgs be sent to Paris for SRE and Emb and rptd simultaneously to Wash; most msgs will as well be repeated capitals other Schuman Plan countries. Any tele instrs required wld be sent from Wash to SRE. We wld also assume that any instrs given by SRE to individuals in touch with High Auth wld be rptd simultaneously to Wash and that to extent feasible there wld be sufficient time allowed for Wash comment to be made. We wld suggest using SRE cable series appropriate to subj matter.

When a resident mission (time period (b)) is established in Lux Dept will make appropriate arrangements with Leg for special series and special signing auth for head of ResDel. The whole problem of communications will be re-examined when we reach time period (c).

During time periods (a) and (b) we wld assume relationships with Schuman Plan Assembly wld be SRE responsibility except so far as it or any special comites are working on developing Eur Polit Community when they wld be handled by collaboration between Emb and SRE with former having reporting responsibility. Clearly developments in Schuman Plan, EDC and Eur Polit Community so closely interrelated that must be closest coordination all aspects work. Assume that during time periods (a) and (b) this wld be handled by SRE–Emb group in Paris.

We believe that from start US representation to High Auth shld be balanced in character, that it must have people who are both highly qualified on econ aspects of Schuman Plan and fully aware of broader polit implications. We also consider it most important for staff have first-hand familiarity with both econ and polit problems of major Schuman Plan countries in particular Ger and Fr.

Wld appreciate ur suggestions on personnel.

Suggest Graham Martin proceed to Lux to survey tele and other facilities there and recommend any additions required for handling work in connection High Auth.

Bruce

1. Drafted by Camp and cleared with Merchant, Tomlinson, Perkins, Riddleberger, Bruce, Leddy, Wood, and Gordon.
2. Document 76.
3. Document 78.