Foreign Relations of the United States, 1952–1954, Germany and Austria, Volume VII, Part 2

762.022/9–1253: Telegram

No. 643
The Ambassador in France (Dillon) to the Department of State¹

secret

Paris, September 12, 1953—2 p.m.

1044. At Maurice Schumann’s request, I called on him this morning. The interview concerned the Saar. He said that the French Government had not as yet answered the letter delivered by Adenauer on June 25, 1953 protesting against the recent Franco-Saar convention,² because the French Government had wished to do nothing that might harm the position of Adenauer in the German elections. The elections being over, the French Government feels that it must now answer Adenauer’s letter of protest. Their answer, now ready in draft form, was handed to me by Maurice Schumann. Full text follows in later telegram.³Schumann stated that answer was written in a friendly tone contrasted with the rather sharp tone of Adenauer’s letter of June 25, because the French Government wished to use this answer as a means of getting on with Franco-German negotiations on the Saar. Schumann said that the French Government was prepared at any time, beginning immediately, to sit down with Adenauer to work out an agreement on the Saar. The final sentence of the draft reply contains an invitation to Adenauer to commence conversations. Schumann said that in the interest of getting on with the EDC, he hoped that Adenauer would very promptly be willing to sit down with Bidault and commence negotiations on the Saar.

The draft response to Adenauer will be delivered to him some time in the near future, but the French first desire any comments or suggestions the US Government cares to make on their draft reply. Schumann told me that the French will be glad to consider any changes in language which we may suggest. The draft reply is also being given to the British Government, and their suggestions will also be welcome. It is obvious that the French Government has put a great deal of thought into the preparation of this draft reply to Adenauer, so I feel that we should only make such suggestions as we feel to be of real importance.

In closing, Schumann asked if we could give him any suggestions as we might have very promptly as they did not wish to hold up their answer much longer.

I am somewhat disturbed by information in Bonn telegram to Department 991⁴ indicating that Adenauer will not be able to open discussions on Saar until middle of October. I am sure Department realizes that such delay on his part means equivalent delay in date when EDC can be submitted to French Parliament.

Dillon

1. Repeated to Bonn and London.
2. Copies of this letter were sent as enclosures to despatch 18 from Bonn, July 2 (762.022/7–253). A summary of the letter quoting its highlights was transmitted in telegram 2 from Bonn, July 1. (762.022/7–153)
3. Telegram 1046 from Paris, Sept. 12, transmitted the French text and an English translation. (762.022/9–1253)
4. Supra.