Memorandum of Conversation with Secretary of State Dean Acheson and Jean Monnet

5. 104 : SERVICE* WITH 6 SECREY INFORMIATION May 6, 1952 MEMORANDUM OF CONVERSATION WITH MR. JEAN MONNET Participants: Mr. Monnet Mr. Acheson Mr. Monnet, with whom I had had lunch on his arrival in the United States, called at his request to sum up his impressions of his visit and to give me some indication of his views as to future courses. He talked first of the signing of the agreements with Germany and the EDC. This morning he had talked over the telephone with Mr. Alphand in Paris. Alphand reported that there was good atmosphere and good spirit in the negotiations and that the agreement should be initialed on Thursday of this week. There would be some matters left for the Ministers to deal with. Mr. Monnet spoke of the question of the German contribution and its division. He said that he was not deeply worried about this. In the first place, he thought that wide margins of error occurred in such figures as the Germans were now getting up relating to their own expenses in the first year. In the second place, the so-called "first year" would not be a year and he did not believe that in the six or seven months which might elapse from the coming into effect of the two treaties until June 30, 1953, Germany could possibly spend enough money to raise serious problems about the support of Allied troops. He thought that a little goodwill and give on all sides would work this out. He felt very optimistic about the signing of the treaties on or about May 20. He was carrying back with him strong convictions that from the point of view of American policy and American attitudes towards Europe it was essential that these two treaties be concluded quickly and that the Schuman Plan should be put into effect at the earliest possible moment, and that further steps should be taken toward political unification of Europe. DECLASSIFIED In connection E: O. 11652, Sec. 3(E) and 5(D) or 5-12-76 Dept. of State letter, Aug 9.1573 SECRET INFORMATION Bx. N.T. HC NARS Date 7-1676