740.5/12–1351: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Embassy in France 1
3478. For Bruce. You are authorized accept Fr invitation for tripartite high level talks on security controls in Paris if after contact with McCloy you consider such mtg wld be useful. If you decide accept invitation we request that you be US Rep at mtgs on this subj. You shld make clear to Fr, if they take line forecast in their Aide-Mémoire,2 we cannot agree to restrictions on heavy milit equipment or on inspection procedure. You shld indicate we think Brit proposal3 offers a basis for an approach to Gers. We suggest that HICOMS be asked to work out an approach to Adenauer along lines of Brit proposal.
FYI, in conversation with Byroade on Dec 5, Monnet indicated he believed only possible solution for Western security controls for Ger wld be relinquishment of tripartite contractual arrangements in this field with reliance being placed on the common budget and procurement framework of EDC to furnish a positive approach which wld insure an unbalanced production of milit items in Ger. He stated he believed that Pleven and the Cabinet wld face up to this type of solution but that a Cabinet decision to that effect cld not be reached immed. He further indicated he saw hope that they might be able accept some solution within a matter of couple of weeks. In meantime he indicated they wld continue their direct conversations with Gers to see if some plan acceptable to both might be found.
Our hesitation in accepting Fr invitation lies solely in fact that such discussions will probably be under auspices of elements of Fon Off that do not favor Monnet’s and Alphand’s approach to problem.
[Page 1737]Also, FYI, President has approved procedure recommended by Sec in Actel 29, Nov. 30 from Rome4 which was hand carried to Bruce by Byroade on Dec. 2 and McCloy has been informed.
- This telegram was drafted by Byroade and Jacobs, cleared with Laukhuff, and Knight, and repeated to Bonn for McCloy and to London.↩
- Transmitted in telegram 3484, December 10, p. 1732.↩
- A summary of the British proposal was transmitted in telegram 611, supra.↩
- Not printed; it transmitted the text of Secretary Acheson’s message to President Truman, dated November 30, p. 1730.↩