Memorandum, State Department Summary of Telegrams

NLT/NAVAL AIDE) 310 the OFFICE OF DECLASSIFIED THE SECRETARY OF STATE 120$5, Sec 732WASHINGTON State By DEB NLT, Date Dept. E.O. Guidelines, Marche 9-9-85 January 7, 1952 TOP SECRET SEGURITY INFORMATION SUMMARY OF TELEGRAMS EUROPEAN DEFENSE FORCE Our Ambassador in Rome reports that Italian Prime Minister de Gasperi is in a most confident mood regarding the outcome of developments on the European Defense Force. De Gasperi felt that the real difficulty is in the financial field, both because the smaller countries are unwilling to make a sizable con- tribution and because of the difficulty of finding a formula for a German contribution to the common fund in the first years while avoiding the establishment of a German Defense Ministry. The French, he said, were most sensitive regarding this problem and de Gasperi is having his own financial and technical experts study the problem in order that he might be prepared to offer a solution as he believed the French and Germans were looking too closely at their own position and interests to be able to see ways around these difficulties. De Gasperi did not feel that the Belgians and Dutch were holding back in their efforts to reach agreement now, with the ex- ception of the matter of finances. He believes firmly that agreement can be reached and said it is urgent to do so as the longer the question is dis- cussed the more difficult it will become. He said the French legal ex- perts desire a detailed document but that he would prefer to have a simpler form, setting forth the principles and leaving to later development agreement on details. Ambassador Dunn said there seemed to be no ar- rangement between Schuman, Adenauer and de Gasperi as to what the three as a group would do to meet the Benelux position. The Prime Min- ister appeared to feel that all concerned were now doing everything possible to find a solution and that with good will, solutions can be found. Embassy Paris has informed us that French Prime Minister Pleven and Foreign Minister Schuman will not make definite plans to visit The Hague and Brussels until their aides have had an op- portunity to review problems with the heads of the Dutch and Belgian delegations to the EDF Steering Committee which is reconvening in Paris tomorrow. The outcome of the critical confidence vote this evening will, of course, affect their plans. TOP SECRET SECURITY INFORMATION