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

762.022/1–1354: Circular airgram

No. 663
The Secretary of State to the Embassy in France¹

secret

Washington, January 13, 1954.

CA–3633. Now that Laniel government “reinvested” we hope Bidault though undoubtedly preoccupied with Berlin Conference might as soon as possible seek further progress towards agreement with Adenauer on Saar.² Understand from Paris despatch 1670³ Bidault has not intended move before end of January due Berlin Conference and expected government crisis which, however, has not materialized so that Bidault might be persuaded take action once possibilities Berlin Conference clarified. Unlikely that final agreement sufficient EDC ratification purposes can be reached, and presumably should not be announced, until immediately prior Assembly EDC debate, but much further negotiation may well be necessary, particularly on economic aspects, before full meeting minds achieved with substance agreement cleared with respective cabinets, and early resumption serious bilateral conversations therefore desirable to prevent post-Berlin delays on EDC due Saar problem.

Although Adenauer understandably reluctant make substantial concessions until French ratification prospects clear, agreement by Bidault and Adenauer to make implementation of settlement conditional upon ratification EDC (penultimate paragraph reference despatch) seems possible and would go far to make earlier serious negotiations possible, perhaps during possible lull Berlin conference by Francois-Poncet if not Bidault, or immediately after. If Bidault reaction favorable formula along foregoing lines, Adenauer would be urged in return embark upon serious negotiations at first opportunity.

Presence of Secretary and Eden on continent with Bidault and in contact with Adenauer would appear offer exceptional possibilities for accomplishments on Saar problem. Addressees’ comments desired (London after consultation with Foreign Office).

Dulles

1. Cleared with BNA, C, WE, and GER and initialed for the Secretary of State by Bonbright. Also sent to Bonn and London and repeated to Strasbourg.
2. The last Adenauer–Bidault meeting on the Saar had been held on Dec. 11 at Paris. According to the Embassy in Paris no progress had been made and Adenauer had seemed reluctant to discuss the question with what he regarded as a caretaker government. (Telegram 2291 from Paris, Dec. 14, 762.022/12–1453)
3. Not printed. It reported the Embassy’s views of the prospects for a Franco-German agreement on the Saar and concluded that the United States and the United Kingdom would be well advised to refrain from intervening in the Saar question at least until after the Berlin Conference. (762.022/12–3053)