journal of european integration history revue d'histoire de l ...

66
Melissa Pine
Two other incidents raised the stakes as Wilson prepared to leave for Germany.
First a French Foreign affairs minister asserted that de Gaulle wanted to ‘discuss
seriously the possibility of nuclear weapons co-operation’. 25 Second, the British
ambassador in Rome, who saw de Gaulle’s proposals as an effort to ‘relieve the
pressure’ caused by British persistence with the Harmel proposals, began pressing
for authority to tell the Italian government of de Gaulle’s proposals. 26 Although
Wilson never seriously contemplated the nuclear option – as far as can be told from
the official record – these moves added to the diplomatic strain.
The Western European Union setting
On the same day that de Gaulle and Soames met, the seven WEU Foreign ministers
gathered to discuss the Italian paper mentioned above. It was already clear that
France would not participate in this new foreign policy initiative, and others feared
that the Germans would therefore back out. 27 However, in a long and acrimonious
discussion, the isolation of the French became apparent. 28 While all seven agreed
that foreign policy consultations should be improved, Britain and the Five supported
a Benelux commitment to draw up a list of foreign policy topics on which
they would consult in WEU, in order to ‘further the adoption of positions agreed
and harmonised to the fullest possible extent’. 29 The French reserved their position,
and at first implied that there had been no acute conflict. 30 In contrast, Stewart told
cabinet that the meeting had both emphasised French isolation and
‘established that our not being members of [EEC] did not exclude us from consultation
with those EEC powers who wished to consult with us, and that the EEC was
not the only forum for consultation’. 31
As work among Britain and the Five proceeded, this division in WEU became
more apparent. 32
25. ‘Record of Conversation between Lord Chalfont and M. de Lipowski, French Minister of State for
Foreign Affairs, at Luxembourg on 6 February 1969’, UKNA/FCO/30/414.
26. Telegrams, Rome to FCO, 7 February 1969, Nos.132-133, UKNA/PREM/13/2628.
27. Telegrams, Luxembourg to FCO, No.33, UKNA/FCO/30/537; Paris to FCO, No.122; Rome to
FCO, No.123, all 4 February 1969, UKNA/FCO/30/357.
28. Telegram, Stewart (in Luxembourg) to FCO, 7 February 1969, No.42, UKNA/PREM/13/2628.
29. Telegram, Stewart (in Luxembourg) to FCO, 7 February 1969, No.43, UKNA/FCO/30/537.
30. Telegram, Paris to FCO, 7 February 1969, No.136, UKNA/FCO/30/537.
31. CC(69)8, 11 February 1969, UKNA/CAB/128/44.
32. ‘Note of a Meeting between the Foreign and Commonwealth Secretary and the Italian Foreign
Minister at the Kirchberg at 11.30am on 7 February 1969’, UKNA/PREM/13/2628.