Office of the Historian

Conference files, lot 59 D 95, CF 97

United States Delegation Minutes of the Tripartite Foreign Ministers Meeting at the Quai d’Orsay, November 1951, 11 a. m.–2 p. m.

secret
[Paris,] November 26, 1951.

PAR M–2

france united kingdom
Deputy Foreign Minister Maurice Schumann Foreign Minister Eden
Ambassador Bonnet High Commissioner Kirkpatrick
High Commissioner François-Poncet Mr. Frank Roberts
M. Parodi Ambassador Harvey
M. LeRoy
M. Alphand

united states

  • Secretary Acheson
  • High Commissioner McCloy
  • Ambassador Bruce
  • Mr. Perkins
  • Mr. Byroade

[Here follows the record of the first part of this meeting in which the Foreign Ministers discussed the Austrian Treaty, printed volume IV.]

Mr. McCloy said that he had discussed the three principal issues with the Chancellor and had explained the decisions to him. He said that the Chancellor had suggested minor changes which were unimportant and which had been accepted. He had then accepted the decisions in good spirit.1

He had mentioned that the foreign ministers would wish to raise the question of security controls, but he did not go into details as to how the matter would be treated. He said that Mr. Hallstein had asked whether it was not understood that the problem of security controls could be handled through the EDF. Mr. McCloy said that he had replied that this was a matter which would be discussed by the foreign ministers.

[Page 1605]

Mr. Schumann suggested that the word “should” be substituted for the word “shall” in paragraph 1, article 7 of the general agreement (See Secto 64 to Department, November 22, repeated London 328[?], Bonn 37, Rome 2122). He said that he construed the “shall” as implying a concession on the part of the three governments that a lasting peace in Europe could be achieved only if German claims in the East were satisfied at least in some measure. He said that if this interpretation were to be asserted by the Federal Government, it would be necessary for his government to issue denials. This would be precisely the type of controversy which we are all anxious to avoid.

There was some discussion as to whether “will”, “shall”, or “should” implied more or less finality. It was finally agreed to use the word “should”.

[Here follows the record of the final part of this meeting in which the Foreign Ministers discussed a German financial contribution to defense, see page 1676.]

  1. According to Secto 69, November 22, the High Commissioners had met with Adenauer following the Foreign Ministers meeting on November 21 (PAR M–1, supra) and had reported to him the agreement that had been reached on the general agreement and the security guarantee. Adenauer had accepted the decisions “in good spirit.” (740.5/11–2251) No further record of the meeting with Adenauer has been found in Department of State files.↩
  2. Not printed; for the text of Article VII, see PAR M–1, supra.↩