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

740.5/9–352: Telegram

No. 99
The United States Special Representative in Europe (Draper) to the Department of State¹

confidential

Paris, September 3, 1952—10 p.m.

Polto 252. 1. I was received yesterday by High Authority in company with Porter, Breithut and Tomlinson.

Monnet made brief statement of welcome in presence of press. He referred to support given by Europe to United States of America at time it was created and stated that United Europe in the making needs friends and support now just as we did then. Monnet concluded with following statement: “We do not intend to build up a European continent separated from other nations. We wish on contrary that new Europe be open to entire world. The association of United States with European community should constitute best proof of our mutual wish to avoid any idea of separation or isolation.”

I made brief reply accepting High Authority’s welcome and commenting that in these days we were witnessing not only raising of opening curtain on coal and steel community but also the beginning of the United States of Europe, and that this development held great promise both for peoples participating in the community and for the entire world as well.

2. In afternoon we held brief joint meeting with High Authority. Most of the principal problems of common interest were briefly touched on but question of possible US assistance was not brought up. Discussion was largely devoted to statement by Monnet concerning working relations between US and High Authority and UK and High Authority. Monnet said High Authority had been able to give this question only preliminary consideration but that all members endorsed idea that procedure should be found which would make possible full and frank discussions at very early stage of High Authority’s consideration of problems of mutual interest. Such consultations should be on informal basis so that participants would be able to modify their views in process of seeking solutions most appropriate for all concerned. Monnet said Sir Cecil Weir had fully supported this approach.

I replied that we were prepared to work with High Authority in whatever way it thought useful. We had intentionally kept our plans for representation flexible so that we could determine methods of cooperation and need for staff on the basis of experience.

Monnet said he expected High Authority to be involved for some time in setting up institutions and in other organizational problems, and that High Authority also had great deal of thinking to do on questions of policy and implementation. Accordingly he had told British it would be difficult to begin any substantive conversations with them before end of September. He expected High Authority could only begin preliminary talks with US on substantive matters at same time. He of course expected that we and British would continue to keep in closest touch with High Authority during interim period.

3. Sir Cecil Weir later confirmed to me his govt’s decision and his own strong personal desire to help in every way “to make this enterprise succeed.” He repeatedly referred to CSC as offering more hope for Europe than any development in postwar period and as perhaps most important event in Europe in last hundred years. He said that working with CSC was only govt position for which he would have gone back on his previous decision to work in private business. Sir Cecil expressed satisfaction with calibre of members of High Authority and commented favorably on their evident desire to make CSC work along lines of principles stated in CSC treaty.

4. High Authority’s difficulties with Jacques-Comille Paris (SecGen Council of Europe) over arrangements for first meeting of Schuman Plan Assembly (Polto 174, Aug 26²) have not yet been resolved. Meeting was called a few days ago of representatives of High Authority and Blamont’s group of secretaries of national parliaments with reps of Council of Europe Secretariat to make final arrangements; latter, however, did not turn up for meeting. Blamont’s group has therefore had to proceed with plans on basis providing their own services and meeting in separate hall at Strasbourg. I understand that Giacchero and Kohnstamm of High Authority are going to Strasbourg Sept 4 to make new attempt to settle matters with Paris on basis more conciliatory telegram which High Authority received from him today.³

According to High Authority Vice President Etzel, Paris actions are making governments and interested Parliamentarians very aware of the difference between Council of Europe Consultative Assembly and Common Assembly of the CSC which has real powers, and are strengthening their determination to make absolutely certain that CSC Assembly keeps its powers and independence.

5. During my stay, Minister Mesta and I called on Luxembourg Foreign Min Bech. It was clear from his comments he is spending a great deal of time on “this great adventure of the CSC.” Bech underlined importance of CSC for Luxembourg because of dominant role which steel industry plays in Luxembourg economy; he was reassured by the presence of High Authority in Luxembourg which would make it possible for these responsible men to have a real sense of the impact of their decisions on Luxembourg. Bech also stated that Adenauer is taking considerable personal interest in forthcoming meeting of Schuman Plan Council of Mins. Adenauer had proposed that Ministers as well as High Authority attend first meeting of CSC Assembly in Strasbourg; he had suggested that Mins meet in Luxembourg through afternoon of Sept 10 and then take plane to Strasbourg for opening session of CSC Assembly that evening.

Draper

1. Repeated to London, Bonn, Rome, Brussels, The Hague, and Luxembourg.
2. Presumably a reference to Document 94, which was repeated to London as telegram Polto 174.
3. According to telegram Polto 266 from Paris, Sept. 5, final agreement was reached during the conversation under reference concerning arrangements for the first meeting of the Coal and Steel Community Assembly. (740.5/9–552)