850.33/3–351: Telegram
The United States High Commissioner for Germany ( McCloy) to the Secretary of State 1
7132. Personal eyes only from McCloy to Secretary and Byroade. Summary of my two hour conversation with Chancellor on Friday is as follows:
1. Law 27 and Schuman Plan. On Thursday night2 Chancellor had sent me letter about coal-steel3 which showed almost no advance from his earlier position as reported in my 6850 of February 19.4 In view of this I told him I was deeply discouraged about prospects for constructive solution and could see no way out as long as Germans adhered to insistence on preferred coal position. While recognizing his political difficulties I again emphasized profound significance of Schuman Plan for Europe and West especially in light of impending Four-Power Conference.5 Chancellor expressed his full agreement on this and his strong desire to have Hallstein sign Schuman treaty next week. In reviewing situation I stressed our earlier efforts with French to insure Germany fully equal status in Schuman Plan and stated that conversely Germany should not expect better than equal position. After extended discussion of our approach and supporting data Chancellor indicated he would accept our 75 percent formula6 as basis for solution and suggested further discussions on Tuesday to work out details. Meanwhile he asked me to talk once more to trade unions and certain Ruhr figures although his action does not depend on results. Only after Tuesday discussion will be sure whether settlement actually will materialize but I am more encouraged now as to prospects. Chancellor’s attitude on this has strengthened my conviction as to [Page 98] his own sincere belief in European idea and in practical integration with West.
[Here follows a summary of discussions between McCloy and Adenauer pertaining to the current German grain shortage, the question of arming the federal police, and German public opinion toward the Pleven plan for a European defense force.]
- Repeated to Paris eyes only for Bruce.↩
- March 1.↩
- Not printed. A translation of this letter is in Bonn Mission files, lot 311, D(51)270.↩
- Document 45.↩
- Reference is to the Four-Power Exploratory Talks; for documentation, see vol. iii, Part 1, pp. 1086 ff.↩
- Reference is to an agreement reached by McCloy and Adenauer during the conversation on March 2 summarized in this telegram that no German steel works should own mines which had a capacity to produce more than 75 percent of its coking coal requirements, using the production experience of 1938 to 1943, as well as of the month of October 1950 as base points for computation. (Undated letter of McCloy to Adenauer, Bonn Mission files, lot 311, D(51)283)↩