In May 1950 the issue of the future of Germany was due to be raised at a Western's Foreign Minister's meeting in London. Due to the newly created divisions in Europe as a result of the Communist take over of Eastern Europe, the position of the newly created Federal Republic of German was crucial in the minds of policy makers in the US but also in Western Europe. The US in particular wanted to integrate FRG into western Europe politically, economically and militarily, seeing this as the only method for ensuring that she would not be sucked into the new Communist alliance. The Soviet Union was completely against this idea, Britain was supportive but France was apprehensive. Monnet felt this was the time to link the problem of Germany into the idea of European integration. He proposed the pooling of French and German coal and steel resources into an organisation that transcended national institutions, which was open for other countries to join. The idea of coal and steel of course had its significance, in their being the basic tools of war, thereby taking its production out of national hands and into a supranational authority had immediate appeal, both the French and German Cabinets gave the go ahead for negotiations to establish a Treaty to institutionalise this coal and steel pool. Britain was wary due to the supranational aspect, but this Monnet felt was the innovative part. Two institutions formed part of the original Schuman declaration - an independent High Authority and a Court of Arbitration. The US Secretary of State, Dean Acheson was dubious at first, likening it to gigantic cartel, but on further research saw it for what it was, an opportunity to bring Germany back into the European fold. John Foster Dulles, Monnet's ardent supporter in the US administration was in agreement from the outset, as he had always believed that the problems of the Ruhr were the crux of the friction between France and Germany, therefore to solve this would be the key to unifiying the two countries. There were some fears expressed in the US concerning cartelisation and the risk of Europe emerging as a "third force", independent from the US. John McCloy, US High Commissioner in Germany, was also enthusiastic and petitioned the German Government, industrialist and trade union officials to support it. There began in June 1950 a series of difficultn.gotiations to initiate the Coal and Steel Community, which led to the initialing of the Treaty in March 1951.

The originals are held in various Archives in Europe and in the USA

No Photocopying