III  Exchange of letters between the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany and  the Government of the French Republic concerning the Saar

[ TRANSLATION ]

THE FEDERAL CHANCELLOR

AND

MINISTER FOR FOREIGN

AFFAIRS

Paris, l8April 1951  

His Excellency president Robert Schuman,
Minister for Foreign Affairs
Paris

Sir,

The representatives of the Federal Government have several times declared" in the course of  the negotiations on the European Coal and Steel Community that the status of the Saar can  finally settled only by1 the Peace Treaty or a similar Treaty Furthermore, they have declared  in the course of the negotiations that in signing the Treaty the Federal Government is not  expressing recognition of the: present status of the Saar.

I would repeat this declaration and would ask you to confirm that the French Government  agrees with the Federal Government that the status of the 'Saar can be finally settled only by  the Peace Treaty or a similar Treaty and that the French Government does not view the  Federal Government's signature of the European Coal and Steel Community Treaty as  Recognition by the Federal Government of the present status of the Saar

I am, Sir,

( Signed ) ADENAUFR

[TRANS LATION]

Paris, 18 April 1951

Sir,

In reply to your letter of 18 April . 1951, the French Government notes that the Federal  Government in signing the Treaty establishing the European Coal and steel Community  Does not intend recognition of the present status of the Saar.

The French Government declares, in accordance with its own point of view, that it is acting  on behalf of the Saar by virtue of the present status of the latter but does not view the Federal  Government's. signature of the Treaty as recognition by the Federal Government of the present  Status of the Saar. It is not . its understanding that the Treaty establishing the European Coal  and Steel Community prejudges the final status of the Saar, which is a matter for the Peace