762A.13/11–3053: Telegram
No. 288
The United States High
Commissioner for Germany (Conant) to the Department of State
niact
1798. Limited distribution. For Secretary from Conant. In addition to points Chancellor made to me as chairman of AHC for month, and which are being reported (Bonn to Department 17971), he made following points to me as US representative:
He believes he has accurate report from several sources that Churchill is in very precarious state of health. He therefore feels that British Government is in similar position to French and is not capable of developing continuing firm European policy. He believes therefore that it suicide (those are his own words) for three Allied powers to meet with Russians in too near future. What is required before four-power meeting is another three-power meeting not earlier than second half of January after new French Government formed. His arguments on this point seem to me personally compelling, though I may merely have fallen under spell of the old gentleman.
Speaking to me again as US representative he said he had heard that Laniel had asked for assurances from America that American troops would remain in Europe for long period of time. He realized difficulties constitutionally but said anything that could be done along this line would be of greatest significance. He agreed that number of soldiers was not issue, but military strength; perhaps solution could be found by which NATO treaty could be implemented by Congressional action guaranteeing present military strength for long period of time. He said Europe was imprisoned in its past and for its successful development there need for preceptor and that preceptor was US. Without presence of US military strength our guiding hand would be of little avail. He would much rather look forward to Germany working in partnership with Britain, France and US than be left alone on continent with hysterical France. He could understand French worry and he thought they, too, would feel much safer in our company.
He still optimistic about EDC ratification and has not retreated from this line, though he recognizes difficulty with French politics. He said meeting at Hague remarkably satisfactory as far as European [Page 684] spirit concerned and he is believer that EPC will go through provided EDC goes through.
His two-hour conference with Bidault in presence of Parodi and Francois-Poncet was satisfactory. He thinks there possibility, though he cannot guarantee it, that after meeting on December 11 some statement could be issued showing progress. He feels now that Saar problem will not be block to EDC ratification.2
In spite of his great anxiety as to what might occur if Allies were foolish enough to meet with Russians in too near future, Chancellor seemed to be in more optimistic mood than on some previous recent occasions. He said he less anxious today about note than when he first read it.3
He emphasized to me point about Red China, made in my other telegram. He could not see how US could let last paragraph of present note go unanswered. He felt that for US even to admit on agenda discussion of five-power meeting would be to give up our present position.
- Supra.↩
- For documentation on Adenauer’s occasional conversations with Bidault concerning the status of the Saar, see Documents 659 ff.↩
- For the Soviet note of Nov. 26, see Document 284.↩