762.022/11–2053: Telegram
No. 656
The Secretary of
State to the Office of the United
States High Commissioner for Germany, at Bonn1
1592. Eyes only. For Ambassador Conant from the Secretary. Re Deptel 1510.2 1. I am writing you by air pouch giving my views with respect to Saar and EDC and I am enclosing a personal letter from me to Adenauer, which, unless you perceive objection, you should deliver to him.3 In brief my letter to Adenauer sets forth our conviction that an early Saar settlement is essential; that our policy with respect to Europe is not based on France or Germany but on Franco-German unity and cooperation; and that EDC remains a most fundamental objective of US foreign policy.
2. I understand that Adenauer may contemplate sending Hallstein and Gerstenmaier to U.S. to discuss Saar and EDC. Should he approach you about such a trip please let me know at once. Although I believe my letter to you with enclosure to Adenauer indicates clearly U.S. view, there might be some advantage in my stating them directly to Hallstein and I would of course wish your recommendation on this before making a decision. FYI I would not be able to see Hallstein here during the period December 4–8 when I will be in Bermuda and I will be leaving for Paris NAC meeting evening December 11, departing Paris for Washington December 17.4 If it were deemed desirable I could of course see him in Washington [Page 1474] before or immediately after Bermuda or in Paris during NAC meeting.
- Drafted by MacArthur and cleared with Secretary Dulles.↩
- Telegram 1510 reported that Secretary Dulles would communicate with Conant in the next several days regarding the need to obtain a definitive statement from Adenauer on the Saar and the EDC. (123 Conant, James B.)↩
- For Dulles’ letters to Conant and Adenauer, see infra and Document 658.↩
- For documentation on the Bermuda Conference, see vol. v, Part 2, pp. 1710 ff. For documentation on the Twelfth Session of the North Atlantic Council, Dec. 14–16, see ibid., Part 1, pp. 454 ff.↩