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Ambassadors from Europe: The EC’s Diplomatic Missions in Britain and the United States

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The Symbolic Politics of European Integration

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Abstract

While many international organizations received foreign representatives, actively sending diplomats remained a preserve of sovereign states. The ECSC, however, successfully forayed into this preserve—ironically, with the help of Britain, its skeptical bystander. In this chapter, Krumrey explores the creation of the ECSC’s diplomatic mission in London and discusses the significance and limits of this step. He contrasts this apparent success with the later failure of the EC to open a similar mission in the United States due to resistance from the EC’s member states. The chapter also looks ahead at the evolution of the EC’s diplomacy through the 1970s, when EC-US relations grew ever more ambivalent.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    Spierenburg and Poidevin, History, 350.

  2. 2.

    “Note sur les relations extérieures de la Communauté Européenne du Charbon & de l’Acier,” 7 Oct. 1952, HAEU CEAB 5, 17.

  3. 3.

    Milward, Rise and Fall, 144–70; beyond Milward, see also Young, “Schuman Plan”; Lord, “With but Not Of.”

  4. 4.

    Winand, “US Mission to the EU”; Reinfeldt, “High Authority”; Scott-Smith, “Outpost of Atlanticism”; Bossuat and Legendre, “Commission’s Role.”

  5. 5.

    Becker-Döring , Die Außenbeziehungen; Later, she published under the name of Dunlea, e.g. Dunlea, “Charles de Gaulles.”

  6. 6.

    Reichling, Le droit de legation; Hardy, “The diplomatic activities”; Pescatore, Les relations extérieures, 194–95; Reuter, La Communauté, 116–20.

  7. 7.

    On the emergence of a “European legal field”, see Vauchez, Brokering Europe.

  8. 8.

    Dell, Schuman Plan; Ellison, Threatening Europe; Kaiser, Using Europe.

  9. 9.

    Milward , European Rescue, 347–95.

  10. 10.

    Dilks, “Britain and Europe”; Bullen, “British Government”; Young, “Churchill’s ‘No’ to Europe”; Lord, Absent at the Creation.

  11. 11.

    Milward , Rise and Fall, on the tension between the Eden plan and association, see p. 151.

  12. 12.

    Jönsson and Hall, Essence of Diplomacy, 50–52; Satow, Satow’s Guide, 67; Hardy, Modern Diplomatic Law, 106, 117; Schilling, “Diplomatische Vertretungen.”

  13. 13.

    Pink to Christofas, 29 Aug. 1952, TNA/PRO FO 371/100247.

  14. 14.

    Wood and Serres, Diplomatic Ceremonial, 46–63; Satow and Bland, Guide to Diplomatic Practice, 174–241.

  15. 15.

    Note Christofas, 20 Oct. 1954, TNA/PRO FO 371/111255.

  16. 16.

    Weir to Caccia, 12 Oct. 1954, TNA/PRO FO 371/111256.

  17. 17.

    Coulson to Caccia, 7 Oct. 1954, TNA/PRO FO 371/111255.

  18. 18.

    Conversation between Christofas and Sandys, 27 Oct. 1954, TNA/PRO FO 371/111256.

  19. 19.

    Coulson to Barclay and Caccia, 13 Oct. 1954, TNA/PRO FO 371 111256.

  20. 20.

    Weir to Sandys, 26 Oct. 1954, TNA/PRO FO 371/111256.

  21. 21.

    Note Christofas, 20 Oct. 1954, TNA/PRO FO 371/111255.

  22. 22.

    “Note pour le cabinet du President,” 25 Nov. 1954, HAEU/MAEF DE-CE 305.

  23. 23.

    Becker-Döring , Die Außenbeziehungen, 138–40, 311.

  24. 24.

    Milward , Rise and Fall, 127, 165.

  25. 25.

    Monnet to Weir, 27 Oct. 1954, HAEU CEAB 1, 5660; Weir to Sandys, 9 Oct. 1954; conversation between Monnet, Spierenburg, Gaudet, and Weir in Luxembourg, 11 Oct. 1954, TNA/PRO FO 371/111255.

  26. 26.

    NZZ, “Europäische Montanunion,” 23 Dec. 1954; Die Welt, “Das Assoziierungsabkommen mit der Montanunion,” 23 Dec. 1954; NYT “Britain is signing treaty with pool,” Benjamin Welles, 21 Dec. 1954; The Economist, “Britain Ties up with Luxembourg,” 11 Dec. 1954.

  27. 27.

    The Times, “Security and Competition,” 21 Dec. 1954.

  28. 28.

    Milward , Rise and Fall, 168.

  29. 29.

    Hansard Parliamentary Debates, Commons, 5th ser., vol. 537, 21 Feb. 1955, cols. 904–05.

  30. 30.

    Milward , Rise and Fall, 166.

  31. 31.

    Hansard Parliamentary Debates, Commons, 5th ser., vol. 537, 21 Feb. 1955, cols. 917–18.

  32. 32.

    Milward , Rise and Fall, 168.

  33. 33.

    Marjoribanks to Monnet, 16 Aug. 1955, HAEU CEAB 1, 1561; Becker-Döring , Die Außenbeziehungen, 146–47.

  34. 34.

    Becker-Döring , Die Außenbeziehungen, 151–53; Ludwig, “Die Außenbeziehungen,” 156–58.

  35. 35.

    On the nomination, see Spierenburg to Meilkereid, 16 Dec. 1955, HAEU CEAB 1, 1561. The phrase “first European ambassador” is attributed to Mayer by Spierenburg and Poidevin, History, 350, who refer to Vredenburch’s own account for it.

  36. 36.

    Becker-Döring , Die Außenbeziehungen, 146–49.

  37. 37.

    Berthoin to François-Poncet, 3 Mar. 1960, MAEF EU 1956–60, 191.

  38. 38.

    Ibid.

  39. 39.

    Becker-Döring , Die Außenbeziehungen, 108–12; Spierenburg and Poidevin, History, 220.

  40. 40.

    Monnet to Bauer, 15 Oct. 1952, FJME AMH 46, 8.

  41. 41.

    Scott-Smith, “Outpost of Atlanticism,” 99–103; Reinfeldt, “High Authority”; Mosettig, “Building European Ties.”

  42. 42.

    De Grood, “Rapport de voyage,” 2 June 1959, HAEU BAC 56/1980, 143.

  43. 43.

    Ibid.

  44. 44.

    Hallstein, “Ein neues Element,” 122.

  45. 45.

    Joint communiqué issued by the United States, the Commissions of the European Economic and Atomic Energy Communities, and the High Authority of the European Coal and Steel Community, Department of State press release no. 419, 12 June 1959; see also “Possible Establishment of a European Community Mission in the United States” (attached to Kohler to Dillon, “Discussion of Substantive Matters during Visit of the Three European Community Presidents, June 9 – 12,” 3 June 1959), NARA RG 59, lot files A1-5608, 2.

  46. 46.

    Carbonnel to French foreign ministry, 8 Aug. 1958, HAEE/MAEF EU 190.

  47. 47.

    Service juridique, “Du droit de légation des communautés,” 4 May 1959, MAEF DE-CE 1945–60, 643.

  48. 48.

    Service juridique, “Note pour le minister,” 14 Oct. 1958, HAEU/MAEF EU 190.

  49. 49.

    “Note pour le minister” (unsigned), 24 July 1959, HAEU/MAEF EU 190.

  50. 50.

    Roux to French embassy Washington, 15 June 1959, HAEU/MAEF EU 190.

  51. 51.

    “Procès-Verbal de la réunion inter-Exécutifs du Groupe de Travail des Relations Extérieurs tenue le 9 février 1959 à Luxembourg,” 11 Feb. 1959, HAEU CEAB 5, 670.

  52. 52.

    Hallstein to Council President, 17 Dec. 1959, HAEU CEAB 5, 768.

  53. 53.

    Hirsch to Council President, 23 Dec. 1959, HAEU/MAEF DE-CE 305.

  54. 54.

    Corse to French foreign ministry, 5 Feb. 1960, HAEU/MAEF EU 190.

  55. 55.

    Rey to Butterworth, 2 Feb. 1960 (copy); Malvestiti to Tandy, 5 Feb. 1960 (copy), MAEF DE-CE 1945–60, 643.

  56. 56.

    “Note pour le ministre” (unsigned), 24 July 1959, HAEU/MAEF EU 190.

  57. 57.

    Becker-Döring , Die Außenbeziehungen, 165–204; Dunlea, “Charles de Gaulles,” 467–78.

  58. 58.

    “Accord des trois Institutions européennes sur l’établissement de représentations diplomatiques communes à l’étranger (projet),” 26 Sept. 1958, HAEU CEAB 5, 670.

  59. 59.

    Note to Rey (unsigned, probably by Balladore-Pallieri), 13 Oct. 1958, HAEU CEAB 5, 670.

  60. 60.

    Balladore-Pallieri, “Note pour les Membres du Groupe de Travail Relations Extérieures,” 21 Nov. 1958, HAEU CEAB 5, 670.

  61. 61.

    Rey to Butterworth (copy), 2 Feb. 1960, MAEF DE-CE 1945–60, 643 (emphasis added).

  62. 62.

    Debré to Couve de Murville, 13 Feb. 1960, HAEU/MAEF EU 190.

  63. 63.

    French foreign ministry to French embassy Washington, 25 Feb. 1960; Lucet to French embassies in Bonn, Rome, Brussels, The Hague and Luxembourg, 25 Feb. 1960, HAEU/MAEF EU 190.

  64. 64.

    “Extrait du Procès-verbal de la réunion restreinte des Conseils de la Communauté Economique Européenne et de la Communauté Européenne de l’Energie Atomique tenue à Bruxelles le 10 mars 1960,” HAEU CEAB 5, 768.

  65. 65.

    Berthoin to Reichling, 13 Apr. 1960, HAEU CEAB 5, 768 (emphasis in the original).

  66. 66.

    Wehrer to Rey and Krekeler (no date, telex 1147); Wehrer to Van Kleffens, 9 July 1960, HAEU CEAB 5, 768.

  67. 67.

    Reichling to Wehrer, “Missions communes: Ma visite à M. Hijzen en date du 31 mars,” 4 Apr. 1960, HAEU CEAB 5, 768.

  68. 68.

    Ludlow , “Emergence”; Coppolaro, “Trade and Politics.”

  69. 69.

    Note to Wormser, 30 Dec. 1959, MAEF DE-CE 1945–60, 643.

  70. 70.

    Clearly, Gottlieb, Stern, and Ball to EAC Commission, 11 May 1960, HAEU CEAB 5, 768; Becker-Döring, Die Außenbeziehungen, 208–10.

  71. 71.

    “Organisation des missions des Communautés Européennes à Londres et à Washington: projet de note du 26/2/1960 vs. projet de note du 14/11/1960,” 15 Nov 1960, HAEU CEAB 5, 768. Bossuat and Legendre, “Commission’s Role,” 344–50.

  72. 72.

    Bossuat and Legendre, “Commission’s Role,” 344–47; Mosettig, “Building European Ties.”

  73. 73.

    Stoessel to Casey, 8 Mar. 1973, NARA RG 59, lot files A1-5608, 13.

  74. 74.

    Gfeller, Building a European Identity; Schulz and Schwartz, Strained Alliance; Möckli, European Foreign Policy.

  75. 75.

    FRUS 1969–76, vol. 1, doc. 120. 412–413. By “jackass” Nixon probably meant Sicco Mansholt, then president of the EEC Commission.

  76. 76.

    Keney to Katz, 6 Apr. 1971, NARA RG 59, lot files A1-5608, 7.

  77. 77.

    Leddy and Meeker to Rusk, “Tax Exempt Status of Representatives of the European Communities,” 4 May 1967, NARA RG 59, lot files A1-5608, 12; Ylitalo to Lehmann, 27 Feb. 1967; Endera to Percival, “EFTA Tax Status,” 10 July 1967, NARA RG 59, lot files A1-5608, 8.

  78. 78.

    Stoessel to Smoak, “Inclusion of Delegation of Commission of the European Communities on Diplomatic List,” 13 Oct. 1972, NARA RG 59, lot files A1-5608, 7 (emphasis in the original).

  79. 79.

    Keney to Katz, 6 Apr. 1971, NARA RG 59, lot files A1-5608, 7 (emphasis in the original).

  80. 80.

    Conversation Myerson and Barbis with Noël on 27 Apr. 1971, NARA RG 59, lot files A1-5608, 7.

  81. 81.

    Hillenbrand to State Department, “Diplomatic Privileges and Immunities for the European Communities Delegation,” 24 May 1971, NARA RG 59, lot files A1-5608, 7.

  82. 82.

    Bossuat and Legendre, “Commission’s Role,” 354; Sauvignon, “Les Communautés européennes.”

  83. 83.

    Spence, “Taking Stock.”

  84. 84.

    Contrary to the claim by Edelman, Politics as Symbolic Action.

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  1. European University Institute, Florence, Italy

    Jacob Krumrey

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Krumrey, J. (2018). Ambassadors from Europe: The EC’s Diplomatic Missions in Britain and the United States. In: The Symbolic Politics of European Integration . Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-68133-7_4

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