840.00/2–2248: Telegram
The Ambassador in France (Caffery) to the Secretary of State
980. Bidault says he talked today to the Belgian Ambassador about the projected western union. Baron Guillaume1 said Spaak doesn’t like the Dunkirk Treaty approach but wants something along the lines of the Benelux proposals (my 919 February 19). Bidault told him he is more than willing to sign a secret military alliance with concrete promises on all sides for immediate action in any eventuality with Great Britain and the Benelux countries if the United States is associated in some form with them, but he is afraid of a “high sounding treaty” with nothing effective behind it.
[Page 30]In this connection he invited my attention to Article 2 of the treaty signed between the Soviet Union and Hungary on February 18.2
In regard to a customs union (which Bidault wants) Guillaume said that the time was not ripe but perhaps something could be done along “general economic lines”.
Guillaume added the British seem in no hurry to reach accords in the direction of a military alliance.
Sent Department as 980, repeated London as 103, Brussels as 21.