Office of the Historian

164. Circular Telegram From the Department of State to Certain Posts in Europe1

Washington, May 17, 1966, 7:43 p.m.

2255. Subject: Spain, EEC and NATO.

1.
Spanish Ambassador called on Under Secretary Ball May 16 to present aide-memoire re Spanish aims in Europe.2
2.

a. Ambassador said Spain seeks join in Common Market and in Western defense organization with full rights. Need for early action on [Page 383] application to EEC arose from growing Spanish trade deficit with Six. This caused by rising imports permitted by trade liberalization to conform to GATT and by increasing level EEC protection against Spanish exports as EEC customs union takes effect. Noted latest EEC Council decisions this regard.

b. Spanish efforts to attain membership thus far delayed and obstructed for political reasons by Italy, Belgium and Netherlands motivated by ideological and sentimental considerations. Their opposition injurious to Spanish interests.

c. Unless progress made on Spanish admittance to EEC, Spain would be obliged resort to discriminatory measures. This would include invocation GATT safeguard clauses for developing countries and refusal military and other facilities to states opposing Spanish admission to EEC.

d. Germany understands that its access to Spanish facilities depends on support for Spanish participation in EEC. French also helpful. But Italians incomprehensibly opposed. Spain has assumed burden Italian defense by accepting Polaris missiles at Rota allowing withdrawal IRBM’s from Italy. Yet, in return, Italy has extracted excessive commercial benefits within EEC which harmful to Spain.

e. When NATO reformed Spain would hope to be associated in some way with new organization.

3.
Spanish aide-memoire concluded that “Spanish Government is not requesting special action from USG.” But hoped USG would express support for Spanish inclusion in EEC to Community and support member governments acting on Spanish behalf. Spanish Ambassador added, speaking personally, that he was sure Spanish ForMin wished US would speak forcefully to Italy.
4.
Under Secretary assured Ambassador of US concern for Spanish problems and recalled that US as well has difficulties with EEC agricultural policies. However, he was non-committal on specifics of Spanish demarche and avoided stating any US position on Spanish link with EEC. Under Secretary cautioned Spanish Ambassador that US would wish to give most careful consideration to Spanish aide-memoire. We were convinced that any intervention likely to provoke adverse reaction in view well-known sensitivity of Six. Noted that in view of current NATO crisis and problems in NATO/France relations these sensitivities likely to be heightened.
5.
Comment: Department by no means clear from Ambassador’s presentation and reports from addressee posts precisely what Spanish actually trying secure in relations with EEC—whether full membership, association as provided in Art. 238 Treaty of Rome, limited association on Austria model or some other commercial type relationship.
6.
Posts should carefully observe same prudent and non-committal position re Spanish relation with EEC that Under Secretary took with Ambassador.
Rusk
  1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, EEC 6 SP. Confidential. Drafted by Thomas W. Fina (RPE) and Jacob M. Myerson (U), cleared by McKillop, and approved and initialed by Ball. Sent to 14 posts in Western Europe.↩
  2. A memorandum of Ball’s conversation with Ambassador Merry del Val to which is attached the aide-memoire is ibid., ECIN 6 EEC-SP.↩