Memorandum, State Department Summary of Telegrams

MLT (Naval Aide)322 THE SECRETARY OF STATE E.O. 12405, Maich u, 1982 WASHINGTON State Dept. DEB Guidelines, NLT, Date 9-9-86 February 1, 1952 By TOP SECRET SECURITY INFORMATION SUMMARY OF TELEGRAMS GERMANY High Commissioner McCloy reports that Chancellor Adenauer on January 30 sent sev eral of his aide, to discuss with McCloy the serious nature of the political crisis in Ger- many created by the French appointment of an Ambassador to the Saar. The Germans feel that this is another step in a long series of French unilateral acts tending to emphasize the separation of the Saar from Germany and thus constituting violation of the pledge given by France in the exchange of letters at the time of the signing of the Schuman plan. It has given the opposition party in Germany a popular plank and has created real doubts as to French intentions. The most serious aspects of the situation is that the Bundestag debate, which the Chancellor has decided cannot be postponed beyond February 7 because of pressure from all factions, will take place in a bitter atmosphere. Unless the Chancellor can point to some definite action on the part of France con- firming its declaration that nothing in the present status of the Saar has been modified, the Chancellor believes it most unlikely his Government can secure a majority for the EDC in the debate. In this case it would be forced either to abandon its projected defense contribution and con- tractual relations or to resign and be replaced by a Socialist Govern- ment. Mr. McCloy states he does not wish to be an alarm- ist but the seriousness of the present crisis should not be minimized even though, in part, it has undoubtedly been created by local political considerations. McCloy told the Germans he was prepared to recom- mend that the US take the initiative in obtaining a joint declaration to be signed by the US, UK, France, Germany and possibly the Benelux countries which would indicate general European interest in the Saar and determination of the signatories to bring about a satisfactory settle- - ment of the issue. The German representative felt that such a declara- tion would not be enough and that the Chancellor must be able to present something more which would enable him to demonstrate that action was being taken to remedy the crisis. McCloy said he doubted that such a proposal was practical in the circumstances, given the present state of parliamentary opinion in France. McCloy suggested his recommendation TOP SECRET SEQURITY INFORMATION