‘Holiday match between Schuman and Adenauer (with Hallstein as ballboy).’ On 7 August 1952, German cartoonist Wolfgang Hicks paints an ironic picture of the disappointing outcome of the negotiations between France and the Federal Republic of Germany on the question of the Saar’s future. Lying back on their deckchairs with their backs to each other, French Foreign Minister Robert Schuman and Chancellor Konrad Adenauer play a tennis match that looks to have little chance of succeeding. Despite the efforts of Walter Hallstein, German State Secretary for Foreign Affairs, to pick up the ‘Saar’ balls and get the game going, it makes no difference: the bilateral conversations on the Saar don’t lead anywhere.