The Honorable Dean Acheson, The Secretary of State Washington, D.C. U.S.A.
DEPARTMENT OF STATE Memorandum of Conversation
Date: December 1, 1949
Subject:
Participants: Secretary of State Acheson; Mr. Henri Bonnet, French Ambassador; Mr. Henry A. Byroade, Director, German Affairs, Department of State; and Mr. George W. Perkins, Assistant Secretary of State for European Affairs
Copies to: S, U, G, GER, EUR, American Embassy, Paris
Monsieur Bonnet stated that he wished to discuss the continuing rumors concerning the rearmament of Germany.
I told him that I did not know where these rumors came from and that we had been consistently denying them. Monsieur Bonnet then presented a copy of the statement concerning Germany made by Mr. Robert Schuman before the French National Assembly which referred particularly to rearmament. After reading the statement, I told him that I agreed with it.
Monsieur Bonnet then went on to say that the persistent rumors of rearmament of Germany were upsetting public opinion in Europe and particularly in France, and that this was interfering with the main task before all of us which was the integration of Germany into the European scene. The rearmament of Germany was not a part of this integration and the talk was disturbing and upsetting.
I told him that we would continue to do everything we could to stop the rumors.
Monsieur Bonnet then took up another subject stating that he had just received a wire from his Government requesting that we consider issuing new instructions to our representatives to the United Nations on the subject of the resolution regarding territories. He stated that his Government had scrupulously lived up to its obligations concerning territories as prescribed by the United Nations and looked with disfavor on any attempt to change the existing situation. Monsieur Bonnet had not had time to get the precise details from Paris and promised to forward a memorandum this afternoon setting forth exactly what was giving his Government concern.
I then told him that we would, of course, consider the matter thoroughly as soon as we had full information on the subject.
I then took up with him the matter of the Austrian Peace Treaty and told him that we had been informed that the French desired further latitude on the reconstitution of the Austrian Army than had been provided in the previous agreements. I told him that we felt that this might well jeopardize the whole Peace Treaty and that although we appreciated the reasons prompting the French desire, it was our considered judgment that the present arrangement could supply sufficient security to Austria after the withdrawal of Allied troops. Preliminary steps could be taken before the signing of the treaty, such as the selection of already trained men and the accumulation of necessary equipment. If this were done, it should be possible within the ninety day period to establish a force which would be adequate for immediate needs.
I also pointed out that the French were concerned about the compensation for assets provision of the draft Treaty and informed him that we had assurances from Mr. Gruber that the Austrian Government would take care of this compensation if the Treaty were signed in this form.
The other item disturbing the French was the question of displaced persons. I stated that although we agreed with the French that the elimination of aid to these people presented a serious problem, we believed that some means could be found for taking care of it, and that it was not of sufficient importance to risk not being able to conclude the Treaty.
Monsieur Bonnet stated that he would communicate with his Government on these points.
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