55. Memorandum From the Under Secretary of State (Ball) to President Kennedy0
SUBJECT
- United Kingdom-Common Market Negotiations
With the failing domestic strength of the Macmillan Government, the negotiations in Brussels with the European Economic Community have seriously slowed down and are nearly on dead-center. This partly reflects the distaste of de Gaulle and Adenauer for British entry into Europe; it also reflects the negative reaction of the “good European” members of the Commission of the Common Market to a British tendency to treat the negotiations as a commercial haggle rather than a major political undertaking.
During the OECD Ministerial Meeting in Paris ten days ago, I met with Bohlen, Bruce, Dowling, Reinhardt, Tuthill and Rice, to discuss how we might breathe some new life into these negotiations and insure against their failure. They recommended that I discuss certain aspects of this question with the Prime Minister at Nassau and try to see Heath some time early next year with a view to proposing to the British lines of attack that might improve their posture.
In the meantime, Heath, on his own motion, approached Bruce with the request that I see Hallstein, who was coming to the United States to make a speech. Heath hoped that I might soften Hallstein up to play a more constructive role. Subsequently, Heath also sent word that he himself would like to have a completely confidential meeting with me in Paris the middle of January, prior to the resumption of the negotiations in Brussels.
In response to Heath’s request and in order to give the British side a helpful push, I arranged to have Hallstein fly to Washington Saturday, where he and I had a long and frank lunch. A report of the conversation is contained in the attached memorandum.1 It is too long to read, but its [Page 139] essence is that Hallstein welcomed the idea that we might serve as a channel of communication between the Commission and the British, and he has made one or two suggestions that I can pass back to Heath as a starter.
I think Hallstein was impressed with the seriousness that we attached to a quick conclusion of these negotiations and I feel we have paved the way for some work backstage that can give the negotiations a helpful shove. Meanwhile, you will be in position to advise the Prime Minister at Nassau that we have struck a blow on his side.
- Source: Kennedy Library, National Security Files, United Kingdom. Secret. No drafting information appears on the source text.↩
- Not printed. In this 24-page memorandum of conversation Hallstein and Ball explored the attitudes of each of the Common Market countries toward British membership with Hallstein stressing that he was optimistic about the United Kingdom being successful. Ball stated the U.S. belief that the free world was moving into a “climactic” period when its total strength needed to be consolidated. British membership was vitally important as a first step to this strengthening, and Ball asked Hallstein whether, and how, the United States could be helpful.↩