Foreign Relations of the United States, 1955–1957, Central and Southeastern Europe, Volume XXVI

97. Memorandum of a Conversation, White House, Washington, March 7, 1957¹

Washington, March 7, 1957

SUBJECT

• The President’s Conversation with Von Brentano

PARTICIPANTS

• The President
• Mr. Von Brentano, German Foreign Minister
• Heinz L. Krekeler, German Ambassador
• C. Burke Elbrick
• Mrs. Lejins (interpreter)

After greeting Minister Brentano, President Eisenhower mentioned the Government’s desire to have Chancellor Adenauer visit the U.S. in late May. He read to the Minister a statement regarding the invitation to Chancellor Adenauer which he said would be given to the press following this morning’s talk, if Brentano approved.² The Minister indicated his complete agreement with the announcement.

Minister Brentano expressed his regret that President Heuss had been obliged to cancel his expected visit to Washington. In reply to the President’s question, Brentano stated that the President is recovering from his illness and is now able to be up and about for several hours each day.

The Minister said that he was very satisfied with the talks that he had had with Secretary Dulles which had served to reaffirm the identity of views between the two Governments on matters of mutual concern. He could assure the President that the Federal Republic of Germany would continue in the course that it had heretofore followed, knowing that it could count on the support of the U.S. He expressed the view that the U.S., as the greatest Western Power, must maintain the leadership of the free world for some time to come. The President acknowledged the validity of the Minister’s observation. He said that Europe one day will be able to stand on its own feet. He referred approvingly to the European integration movement and said that the combined skills and resources of Europe will be forged, through integration of the Western countries, into a third force which will ensure the salvation of the Western world. Brentano said that he preferred not to use the expression “third force” since it is a term which was often misused as indicating that Europe would provide a balance of power as between the East and the West. He felt that Europe must align itself on the Western side, to which the President agreed.

The President referred to the forthcoming spring meeting of the North Atlantic Council and was pleased to know that the meeting would take place in Bonn. He said that NATO is in good shape with respect to policy but that it was undergoing certain economic difficulties. Brentano referred to the contemplated reductions in British forces in Europe and wondered if NATO could deal with this very difficult problem. The President said he saw no reason for pessimism with respect to the future of NATO. He said that the NATO partners differ occasionally on policy but are aware that their best interests dictate unity of action and purpose. He referred to the recent Suez crisis as an “accident of the road”. These accidents, he said, would occur from time to time but should not destroy the effectiveness of NATO.

The President commented very favorably on the elimination of the Saar problem as marking a decisive step forward in relations between France and Germany and the beginning of a sound policy.² He felt that there was nothing more important in Europe than close Franco-German relations.

There was some discussion of the Eastern European satellite countries and Brentano commented on the effect of recent developments there on the Eastern Zone of Germany. The President felt that the “law of gravity” in politics would draw the Eastern countries toward the West and that the liberation of the satellites would result. Brentano agreed though he expressed some fear that the Soviets might try to turn the clock back. The President said that he felt that as the West grows strong the Soviet Government will grow more careful.

1. Source: Department of State, Conference Files: Lot 62 D 181, CF 834. Confidential. Drafted by Elbrick.
2. For text of this statement, as finally released to the press on April 19, see Department of State Bulletin, May 6, 1957, p. 719.
2. Meeting in Bonn on September 29, 1956, Adenauer and Mollet agreed on the framework of a solution to the longstanding problem of the Saar. According to the outline of the accord, the Saar would return to German control on January 1, 1957, and would become the tenth Land of the Federal Republic of Germany. In return, Germany agreed to compensate France through a series of economic concessions regarding coal and navigation.