Franco-German relations
The Saar
‘The Saar — a German question’ from Die Gegenwart (15 September 1949)
TextOn 15 September 1949, the German magazine Die Gegenwart speculates on the political future of the territory of the Saar and outlines the discussions held between France and the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG) on this subject.
‘The status of the Saar' from the Internationale Spectator (21 September 1949)
TextOn 21 September 1949, the Dutch journal Internationale Spectator comments on the economic and political situation of the Saar and on its implications for France and the fledgling Federal Republic of Germany (FRG).
Johannes Hoffmann, The Saar's European vocation
TextIn January 1951, in the journal Notre Europe, Johannes Hoffmann, Prime Minister of the Saar, outlines the historical background of the Saar and emphasises the economic and political role that the Saar region intends to play at European level.
‘The Saar, political vacuum in Europe’ from the Internationale Spectator (11 July 1951)
TextOn 11 July 1951, the Dutch journal Internationale Spectator speculates on the political future of the Saar territory, which remains economically attached to France.
Report by Marinus van der Goes van Naters on the future status of the Saar (26 August 1953)
TextOn 26 August 1953, the Dutch Socialist delegate, Marinus van der Goes van Naters, presents his report to the members of the Committee on General Affairs of the Council of Europe proposing that the Saar be made into a European territory.
Draft Resolution on the Saar tabled by Marinus van der Goes van Naters (31 August 1953)
TextOn 31 August 1953, the Dutch Socialist Delegate, Marinus van der Goes van Naters, rapporteur to the Committee on General Affairs of the Council of Europe, tables a draft resolution aimed at making the Saar into a European territory.
The Ruhr
Note on the relationship between the International Authority for the Ruhr and the European Coal and Steel Community (7 November 1950)
TextAnonymous French note on the coexistence of the International Authority for the Ruhr and the High Authority of the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC).
Note from Paul Leroy-Beaulieu on the transfer of responsibility for decentralisation from the International Authority for the Ruhr to the High Authority (11 November 1950)
TextOn 11 November 1950, Paul Leroy-Beaulieu, Head of the General Directorate of Economic and Financial Affairs at the French High Commission in Germany, drafts a short note on the attitude that the British might adopt were the International Authority for the Ruhr (IAR) to cease to exist following the establishment of the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC).
Carl Ophüls, From the International Authority for the Ruhr to the Schuman Plan
TextOn 6 December 1951, Carl Friedrich Ophüls, Civil Administrator in the Federal Ministry of Justice, retraces the history of the International Authority for the Ruhr (IAR) from the time of its establishment in April 1949 to its dissolution upon the entry into force of the Schuman Plan for coal and steel.
Report by Albert Bureau on the demerging of the German steel industry (28 June 1951)
TextOn 28 June 1951, Albert Bureau, Director of the Iron and Steel Industry in the French Ministry of Industrial Production, drafts a report on the implications of the demerging of the German iron and steel industry in the Ruhr industrial basin.
Protocol relating to the Agreement ending the Ruhr Agreement (Paris, 19 October 1951)
TextOn 19 October 1951, Belgium, France, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom and the United States adopt a protocol in Paris which terminates the activities of the International Authority for the Ruhr.
Agreement relating to the suspension of the activities of the International Authority for the Ruhr (27 May 1952)
TextOn 27 May 1952, in the light of the establishment of the European Coal and Steel Community, the United States, Belgium, France, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom sign an agreement in Paris which terminates the activities of the International Authority for the Ruhr.
The resolution of the German question
Aide-memoire from Konrad Adenauer on the resolution of the Franco-German problem (7 November 1949)
TextOn 7 November 1949, German Chancellor Konrad Adenauer publishes an aide-memoire in which he emphasises the psychological dimension of the Franco-German problem.
Letter from Dean Acheson to Robert Schuman (Washington, 30 October 1949)
TextOn 30 October 1949, US Secretary of State Dean Acheson writes to Robert Schuman, French Foreign Minister, to assure him of his interest in seeking a concerted solution regarding the international status of Germany.
Letter from Dean Acheson to Robert Schuman (30 October 1949)
TextOn 30 October 1949, Dean Acheson, US Secretary of State, sends a letter to Robert Schuman, French Foreign Minister, in which he refers to the settlement of the German question and proposes that France take the initiative to establish the main lines of a common policy for the Western Allies with the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG), so that the FRG can be integrated into Western Europe as soon as possible.
Conversation between Vincent Auriol and André François-Poncet (28 December 1949)
TextConversation between French President, Vincent Auriol, and High Commissioner of the French Republic in Germany, André François-Poncet, on the future status of the Federal Republic of Germany and its relations with the Allies.
‘Franco-German entente, but in what form?’ from Le Monde (7 January 1950)
TextOn 7 January 1950, the French daily newspaper Le Monde speculates on the various forms of economic cooperation between France and the Federal Republic of Germany and reports the views on this subject that are current in German political and economic circles.
Note from Jean Monnet to Robert Schuman (1 May 1950)
TextOn 1 May 1950, Jean Monnet sends a lengthy memorandum to Robert Schuman in which he draws the French Foreign Minister’s attention to France’s role in finding a European solution to the German problem.
Robert Mischlich, A secret mission to Bonn: extract on relations between France and Germany
TextRobert Mischlich, a close collaborator of Robert Schuman, the French Foreign Minister, looks at the evolution of relations between France and Germany and particularly focuses on Schuman's relationship with Konrad Adenauer.
Letter from Robert Schuman to Konrad Adenauer (Paris, 7 May 1950)
TextIn a letter dated 7 May 1950, the French Foreign Minister, Robert Schuman, writes to the German Chancellor, Konrad Adenauer, and informs him of his proposal to pool European coal and steel production.
Official reply by Konrad Adenauer to Robert Schuman (Bonn, 8 May 1950)
TextOn 8 May 1950, in his official reply to Robert Schuman’s letter which he received the previous day, the German Chancellor, Konrad Adenauer, informs Mr Schuman of his interest in the plan to pool European coal and steel.
Personal reply by Konrad Adenauer to Robert Schuman (8 May 1950)
TextReplying personally to Robert Schuman’s letter dated 7 May 1950, the German Chancellor, Konrad Adenauer, expresses his confidence in the French Foreign Minister’s plan for the future of Franco–German relations.
Interview with Bernard Clappier: extracts on the origins of the Schuman Plan and the role of Jean Monnet (11 November 1980)
TextOn 11 November 1980, in an interview granted to journalist Roger Massip, Bernard Clappier, former Head of the Private Office of French Foreign Minister Robert Schuman, describes the circumstances in which the Schuman Plan was prepared in 1950 and outlines the role played by Jean Monnet.
Interview by Georges Suffert with Jean Monnet: extract on the German question (10 and 11 May 1970)
TextOn 10 and 11 May 1970, in an interview given to journalist Georges Suffert, Jean Monnet, former Commissioner-General of the French National Planning Board, discusses the state of Franco-German relations in the aftermath of the Second World War.