740.5/4–1354: Telegram
The Ambassador in France (Dillon) to the Department of State 1
priority
3873. After lengthy and stormy Cabinet session April 12, government finally authorized signing agreement re UK association EDC which was done by Alphand this morning.
Gaullist Deputies apparently surprised when Bidault presented text to Cabinet and they demanded that signing be delayed to permit further study. Bidault reportedly insisted that decision be immediately taken on grounds action would have to be completed before British Parliament recesses April 14. URAS and ARS Ministers objected strenuously stating it would indicate government committed to EDC and were indignant that Bidault had withheld text from Cabinet until Parliament adjourned. MRP Teitgen stated to have urged Cabinet decide immediately in favor early Assembly debate on EDC.
Edgar Faure reportedly added to confusion and tension by demanding that action on EDC, including UK guarantees, be suspended pending [Page 932] settlement IC conflict. Moreover other Radical Minister Martinaud-Deplat held that British guarantees were insufficient. Stormy exchange reportedly followed between Faure and Bidault, latter accusing Faure of going back on his earlier position in favor EDC. Faure’s stand surprising and may perhaps represent bid for heading new government, should Cabinet crisis ensue, Faure might calculate majority in favor of him possibly composed of EDC opponents and those in favor of stalling on issue especially until IC conflict resolved.
Laniel reported to have backed Bidault pointing out that British guarantee and not IC settlement was “prior condition” set by him in investiture speech and thus by government that now that it had been [apparent garble] should be accepted.
President Coty stated to have supported this position and majority Cabinet favored signing, despite Gaullist objections and demands for delaying decision.
Gaullist Ministers and leading Deputies and Senators subsequently held series of meetings and also conferred several times with Laniel. Meeting continuing today and announcement may be made this evening as to their decision whether or not to stay in government.
Laniel issued communiqué this morning on agreement for UK association, which included statements that text would have to be approved by Parliament and that its application would depend on EDC going into effect.2 This has somewhat mollified Gaullist Ministers who appear at present reluctant leave government.
Cabinet now scheduled to hold next meeting April 15 re decision on timing EDC debate Assembly.
- Repeated to London, Brussels, The Hague, Rome, Luxembourg, and Bonn.↩
- In telegram Coled 225 from Paris, Apr. 13, Bruce reported that the Heads of Delegations of the EDC Interim Committee and the U.K. representative to the EDC Interim Committee had signed the U.K. association agreement on the morning of Apr. 13. Bruce observed that the British declaration contained no mention of their willingness to extend the NATO right of withdrawal to 50 years (740.5/4–1354), The United Kingdom released the text of the association agreement on Apr. 14. For text, see Department of State Bulletin, Apr. 26, 1954, pp. 620–621.↩