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

762.022/11–553: Telegram

No. 654
The United States High Commissioner for Germany (Conant) to the Department of State

secret
priority

Bonn, November 5, 1953—6 p.m.

1589. Limited distribution. Reference our 1567 and 1575.¹ Blankenhorn last night informed HICOG officer details as outlined below re November 3 talks on Saar between Adenauer and Francois-Poncet. Blankenhorn spoke with unwonted care and caution and enjoined most limited distribution this information to obviate leaks which could be highly prejudicial to success of negotiations. He expressly asked that information not be given Embassy Paris.

Discussions had been in general terms with avoidance details, and it was expressly understood that talks involved no commitments of either government.

In discussion economic question, Francois-Poncet had justified French demand (which had had US and UK support) for Franco-Saar customs and economic union as in nature of reparation for losses France had suffered in war. Blankenhorn intimated that validity of argument had been admitted at least tacitly, but that Chancellor had replied that Germans could not accept such arrangement permanently and that way must be found for gradual termination. Chancellor had indicated that Germany was prepared to make economic concessions to France in this connection. He had expressly asked what France calculated the economic advantages arising from link with Saar to be, which Poncet could not answer but agreed ascertain.

Berard, who present with Poncet, had taken line that French experts had given much study to possibility German economic concessions to France in lieu of Franco-Saar regime and had come to conclusion that such solution out of question. Poncet, according to Blankenhorn, had taken broader view than Berard and had given clear indication that he at least did not rule out such solution and was disposed to pursue further.

As for political questions, Blankenhorn stated that “Europeanization” formula for Saar had been accepted by both sides as general “objective”. Adenauer had indicated readiness accept French thesis that Franco-German agreement on Saar should be submitted to Saar referendum. Poncet accepted participation pro-German parties in referendum and that letter should be promptly followed by election of Constituent Assembly.

Chancellor had raised (as Blankenhorn said he also had with Schuman last year) question of French agreeing that minute French areas adjacent Saar (i.e., Forbach) should be “Europeanized” along with Saar, to facilitate German action. Poncet alluded to extraordinary difficulties, including constitutional.

Blankenhorn said would be mistake to draw conclusions from these talks. There was no basis for optimism and equally no grounds for pessimism. Present plans were for resumption next Monday (9th).²

Conant

1. Telegram 1567 reported that Adenauer and François-Poncet held their first meeting on Nov. 3 and would resume their discussions on Nov. 9. (762.022/11–453) Regarding telegram 1575, see footnote 3, supra.
2. On Nov. 19 Dowling reported that the second meeting between Adenauer and François-Poncet, Nov. 9, was devoted mainly to a detailed statement of the French position. Reporting further, Dowling stated that the Chancellor seemed to be perturbed by the rigidity of the French position, particularly on the economic aspects, but that the meeting seemed to be useful. (Telegram 1638 from Bonn, 850.33/11–1053)