762.022/11–2053: Telegram
No. 655
The Chargé in France (Achilles) to the Department of State1
1992. Third meeting between Adenauer and Francois-Poncet re Saar seems to have gone somewhat better than first two. According to Seydoux, while talks still exploratory in character and cannot be termed negotiations, they have been sufficiently fruitful so that no further such conversation may be needed before Bidault and Adenauer meet.
According to Seydoux, although no concessions were made by either side during Adenauer–Poncet talks, sufficient clarity has been obtained on positions to give hope that agreement can be reached re political aspects of settlement (notably on whether settlement to be provisional or definitive and whether new parties can be admitted after referendum). On other hand, economic issues continue to make for great difficulty as Germans apparently still unwilling to accept principle of Franco-Saar Customs Union. Seydoux said that principle also has Benelux support and possibilities for French concessions very limited.
[Page 1473]Council of Republic last night approved Franco-Saar conventions by 297 to 16 (Commies) after uneventful debate. Maurice Schumann spoke soothingly about French and Saar desire for European solution. Only noteworthy incident was that Communists, pressed to declare themselves on Saar autonomy, finally came out as favoring return to Germany.
- Repeated to London, Bonn, and Strasbourg.↩