Foreign Relations of the United States, 1952–1954, Western European Security, Volume V, Part 1

740.5/5–1652: Telegram

The Ambassador in France (Dunn) to the Department of State ¹

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Paris, May 16, 1952—7 p.m.

7111. Fol is new redraft tripartite declaration as discussed in our immediately preceding tel.²

Begin Text. The Govts of the United States of America, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and France have signed conventions with the German Federal Republic which will establish a new relationship with that country. These conventions, as well as the treaties for a European defense community and a European coal and steel community, of which France is a signatory, provide a new basis for uniting Europe and for the realization of Germany’s partnership in the European community. They are designed to prevent the resurgence of former tensions and conflicts among the free nations of Europe and against any future revival of aggressive militarism. They make possible the removal of the special restraints hitherto imposed on the Federal Republic of Germany and permit its participation as an equal partner in Western defense.

These conventions and treaties respond to the desire to provide by united efforts for the prosperity and security of Western Europe. The Govts of the US and the United Kingdom consider that the establishment and development of these institutions of the European community correspond to their own interests and will therefore lend them every possible cooperation and support.

Moreover, Western defense is a common enterprise in which the Govts of the US and the United Kingdom are already partners through membership of the North Atlantic Treaty organization.

These bonds are now strengthened by the system of reciprocal guarantees agreed to between the member states of the European Defense Community, between these member states and the United Kingdom and also between these member states and the member states of the North Atlantic Treaty organization.

For these various reasons, including the fact that these new guarantees will apply to the states concerned only as members of one or the other of these organizations, the govts of the US and the United Kingdom have an abiding interest, as has the Govt of France, in the effectiveness of the treaty creating the European Defense Community and in the strength and integrity of that community. Accordingly, if any action from whatever quarter were to threaten the integrity or unity of the community, the two govts would consider the matter of the greatest concern to them, calling for consultation under Article 4 of the North Atlantic Treaty in order to agree on measures to meet the situation thus created. Moreover, they have each expressed their resolve to station such forces on the continent of Europe, including the Federal Republic of Germany, as they deem necessary and appropriate to contribute to the joint defense of the North Atlantic Treaty area, having regard to their obligations under the North Atlantic Treaty, their interest in the integrity of the European Defense Community, and their special responsibilities in Germany.

The security and welfare of Berlin and the maintenance of the position of the three powers there are regarded by the three powers as essential elements of the peace of the free world in the present international situation. They reaffirm that they will treat any attack against Berlin from any quarter as an attack upon themselves. They will maintain armed forces within the territory of Berlin as long as their responsibilities require it.

These new security guarantees supersede the assurances contained in the declaration of the Foreign Ministers of the United Kingdom, the US, and France at New York on September 19, 1950.³

Dunn

1. Repeated to Bonn and London.
2. Should read “our immediately following tel” as telegram 7110 concerns another subject. Telegram 7112 from Paris, May 16, reported that the final text of the tripartite declaration “as agreed today subject to Dept’s agreement” on several points was being dispatched in the immediately preceding telegram. The several points that remained at issue dealt with wording on commitment to the maintenance of armed forces on the continent and the precise language with respect to financial burden sharing with respect to such forces (740.5/5–1652).
3. In telegram 7148 from Paris, May 19, Dunn reported that Eden’s unavailability over the previous week had postponed until that moment final agreement on the tripartite declaration. The agreed declaration now read as it did in the source text with one modification. The penultimate paragraph now read: “The security and welfare of Berlin and the maintenance of the position of the three powers there are regarded by the three powers as essential elements of the peace of the free world in the present international situation. Accordingly they will maintain armed forces within the territory of Berlin so long as their responsibilities require it. They therefore reaffirm that they will treat any attack against Berlin from any quarter as an attack upon their forces and themselves” (740.5/5–1952). The text of the Sept. 19, 1950, guarantee is printed in Foreign Relations, 1950, vol. iii, p. 1296.