840.50 Recovery/10–1849: Telegram
The Chargé in Belgium (Millard) to the Secretary of State
1393. ReEmbtel 1357, October 8 [10].1 Spaak informed me today that he saw Cripps on Friday 14. Cripps looked frail, ill and very pale. He agreed with Spaak that affairs in OEEC had been going badly and did not question Spaak’s estimate of serious results should this situation not be remedied. However, as regards Spaak being named to position of leadership as an international official in OEEC, Cripps took the position that effective remedies for OEEC could not [Page 432] be brought about by anyone who did not represent a government. Furthermore he felt international figure would inevitably run into conflict with existing setup, for example, with Marjolin and Hall-Patch and OEEC Council.
Cripps recalled that Van Zeeland had offered to resign from Presidency OEEC in event Spaak should be named to contemplated new international position. Cripps professed hope that Van Zeeland would be willing to go further and appoint Spaak as head of Belgium delegation thus involving government responsibility and opening way for Spaak possibly again to be President of OEEC. However, Spaak said that Van Zeeland certainly did not contemplate such further step and would intend to continue to lead Belgium delegation of OEEC.
Spaak replied that he did not think this was feasible: How could he (Spaak) represent Belgium Government on such an important international economic body as OEEC and remain member of Socialist Party in the opposition to that government? He felt sure that President of his party, Buset, would not approve. It was one thing for Spaak to be named as international conciliator chosen by OEEC with Van Zeeland representing Belgians: Cripps’ proposal was quite another.
Asked whether he thought Cripps had made this proposal knowing it would be unworkable, Spaak admitted this might be the case. In any event, Cripps seemed to fear the appointment of Spaak to contemplated position. In fine Cripps’ position remained virtually the same as last fall when the question was first discussed.
Spaak said he did not agree that being chosen by 19 members of OEEC was less strong position than that sugested by Cripps; on the contrary, Spaak thought it was far stronger one. Spaak saw Buset yesterday who agreed that in unlikely event that Van Zeeland should wish to appoint Spaak in his place, Socialist Party would find it very difficult to reconcile this with fact that Spaak is Socialist and therefore member of opposition: it would look as if Spaak had left party. Spaak is going to see Van Zeeland tomorrow but feels confident that, after that interview, he will have no choice but to write Cripps that latter’s proposal is not feasible.
At the time of my interview, Spaak was drafting question to the government regarding Prime Minister’s handing of King’s exclusive statement to UP correspondent (covered in separate telegram) and remarked with chuckle that Van Zeeland would be still less likely to cede his place on OEEC after question is put.
[Page 433]Sent Department 1393, repeated Paris 239 for Harriman, London 165 for Douglas.
- Not printed.↩