Already in 1946, future Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG), Konrad Adenauer, had declared himself in favour of integrating Western economies: this being in his opinion the firmest foundation for lasting peace in Europe.

From 23 May to 11 June 1949, at the Paris Conference, the Foreign Ministers of the United States, the Soviet Union, France and the United Kingdom address the difficult question of the future of Germany. From left to right, the US Secretary of State, Dean Acheson, the Soviet Foreign Minister, Andrey Vyshinsky, the French Foreign Minister, Robert Schuman, and the British Foreign Secretary, Ernest Bevin.

On 22 December 1949, in an interview given to the German weekly newspaper Die Zeit, the French Foreign Minister, Robert Schuman, sets out his position on the proposal of the Federal Chancellor, Konrad Adenauer, concerning Franco–German rapprochement.

On 3 May 1946, one year after the end of the Second World War, the French trade union journal Reconstruction looks at the question of Germany's future and reflects on the notion of German national identity.

On 8 December 1949, the German weekly newspaper Die Zeit analyses the difficult relations between France and Germany and emphasises that the future of Europe depends on reconciliation and entente between these two countries.

On 25 March 1950, the German weekly publication Rheinischer Merkur speculates on the question of the European integration of the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG) and comments on Chancellor Konrad Adenauer’s proposal for a Franco-German union.

On 10 March 1950, the French Socialist daily newspaper Le Populaire criticises Chancellor Konrad Adenauer’s plan for a Franco-German union and particularly deplores Bonn’s attitude in the management of the Saar question.

On 7 November 1949, Herbert Blankenhorn, Director-General at the German Foreign Ministry, comments on reactions in France to the interview on Franco-German relations conducted by the weekly newspaper Die Zeit with Chancellor Konrad Adenauer.

On 7 November 1949, German Chancellor Konrad Adenauer publishes an aide-memoire in which he emphasises the psychological dimension of the Franco-German problem.

On 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.