Telegram from Ambassador David Bruce to Secretary of State Dean Acheson

\ CIA who INCOMING TELEGRAM Department of State TELEGRAPH BRANCH -SECRET 27-M Action Control: 13616 GER Rec'd: August 26, 1951 FROM: Paris 1:25 p.m. Info DECLASSIFIED SS TO: Secretary of State RAC 3/5/2012 G Authority ALT-ASF-36-12-1 SISA NO: 1224, August 26, 3 p.m. o BySOB NARA, Date 2/5/13 EUR E DCR SENT DEPT 1224, RPTD INFO LONDON 322 FOR GIFFORD AND SPOFFORD, FRANKFORT 133 FOR MCCLOY. PERSONAL FOR SECRETARY. EMBTEL 1223. Translation first part Schuman reply follows: "I wish to thank you for your kindness in making known to me on a personal basis, in your letter of August 9, your thoughts on the basic problems which will be the subject of our conver- sations in Washington in September. "My answer, while it is also of a personal nature, has been delayed by the need to consult the new govt on the manifold and serious problems which will be examined during the coming mtgs and which involve several ministerial depts. "May I say at the outset how happy I am to note the interest you take in the efforts France is making to create a Eur com- munity, as well as the support which your govt is giving to our projects. TRUMAD NARA Concretely, this policy means the speedy ratifications and AND putting into effect of the plan for the coal and steel pool, now before the six interested Parliaments, and agreement on roseja the treaty for the organization of a Eur def community, which we must complete in the shortest possible time. We will thus be involved in the preparation of a real polit ommunity among the free states of West Eur, incl West Ger. "These initiatives have been inspired by one controlling idea, to which my govt remains firmly attached: To integrate West Ger on a basis of equality into a Eur community, which is itself included, as you have said, 'within a developing Atlantic com- munity'; thus to be able to abandon a system of control guar- anteed by force, which==as our experience after the first world war proved--would not (rpt not) constitute a satis and lasting solution; but at the same time to avoid the risk, so serious for peace, and for the Gers themselves of rebuilding a nation- alist Ger which might be tempted to play the role of arbiter be tween East and West. It is with REPRODUCTION OF THIS SECRET MESSAGE IS PROHIBITED