109. Telegram From the Embassy in France to the Department of State1
6242. Ref: Deptel 5579.2 Couve, on his own initiative, told me that he expected to discuss the wording of the declaration on Germany next Monday in London. He seemed to think a solution could be found. I told him this matter had assumed the proportions it has because the wording at de Gaulle’s press conference had created an issue perhaps where one had not existed before. I told him I could see no reason why the substitution of the words “of all peoples concerned” for the phrase referring to the peoples of Europe only was not acceptable. Couve then pointed out that it was nations in which the United States was definitely included which would work out the eventual agreement for German reunification. This would not come about except by the evolution of Europe which would involve only the people of Europe. I told him I thought this was a somewhat over-subtle presentation and would not be understood if the declaration was published. He repeated that he intended to discuss it with the Secretary in London.
Couve said that the French were anxious not to have this declaration come out on the 8th and they thought it would be just as valuable next week as this week. He also told me in confidence that he himself had personally drafted this project and not de Gaulle as I had heard.
- Source: Department of State, Central Files,POL 32–4 GER. Confidential. Repeated to Bonn, London, Berlin, and Moscow.↩
- See footnote 3, Document 107.↩