Nr. 67
Britische Position auf der Bermuda-Konferenz
Der vom Foreign Office für die bevorstehende Konferenz der Regierungschefs der
drei Westalliierten auf den Bermudas gefertigte Vermerk bringt den Diskussionsstand
nach dem Abbruch der deutsch-französischen Saar-Konsultationen auf den
Punkt. Er betont die Bedeutung des französischen Junktims mit der EVG-Ratifizierung
und prüft die Möglichkeiten einer effizienten britisch-amerikanischen
Vermittlungsinitiative.
Y7ermerk des Parlamentarischen Staatssekretärs
John Galway Foster, confidential.
24.11.1953
National Archives - Foreign Office, FO 371/103999/CW 1081/270.
Introduction
The Saar question is urgent because the French insist that it must be settled before
they ratify the E.D.C.S Treaty and Bonn Conventions. Dr. Adenauer is at present
engaged in preparatory discussions with the French High Commissioner in
Germany. Progress has been slow and public and parliamentary opinion in
Germany seems to be hardening against making far-reaching concessions to the
French. Dr. Adenauer and M. Bidault should have had an opportunity for direct
talks on the Saar when they meet at The Hague.
Recommendation
2.
(a) In Tripartite discussion or in private talks with the French, we should not go
beyond enquiring how the Franco-German negotiations are progressing, and what
timetable the French Government have in mind for settling the Saar problem before
the ratification debate on the E.D.C. Treaty in the French Assembly.
(b) In bilateral discussion with the Americans we should make the following
points:
(i) We should refrain from wasting our capital by continuous pressure upon the
French and Germans. If, as seems likely, it becomes necessary to intervene in the
Saar question we should make sure that our intervention is properly timed and
effectual, and that it concentrates on the main points of difficulty.
Protokolle der Bermudakonferenz in: FRUS 1952-1954, Bd. 5, hier bes. S. 1796 ff; zum
Zusammenhang vgl. LappenküPER, Beziehungen, Bd. 1, S. 423 ff.
x European Defense Community.
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