No. 602
Editorial Note
Following President Eisenhower’s expressed desire to appoint a French officer to one of the top NATO commands, a desire which was noted by the National Security Council at its 138th meeting on March 25 (see Document 581), a series of meetings was held between President Eisenhower and General Matthew B. Ridgway in which it was decided that the United States would support the proposal to establish two new positions in the NATO command structure, the positions of Commander in Chief, Center and Commander Land Forces Center. This recommendation was used as the basis for an agreement in the Standing Group on the command change and the matter was then referred to the Military Representatives Committee. When Dutch officials raised objections, the Department of State responded that this was a NATO military matter which should be settled in the Military Representatives Committee and not in the North Atlantic Council. (Memorandum by Merchant, June 17; 740.5/6–1753)
After discussion in the Military Representatives Committee, it was decided to approve the reorganization of SACEUR by establishing a Commander in Chief, Center and a Deputy SACEUR for Air. The North Atlantic Council was informed of this decision in a closed meeting on June 2 and a statement was read to the press the following day announcing the changes. (Airgram Polto A–5 from Paris, July 2; 740.5/7–253) General Pierre Alphonse Juin was appointed Commander in Chief, Allied Forces Central Europe, and General Marcel Carpentier, another French officer, was named the new Commander, Allied Land Forces Central Europe; the new position of Deputy SACEUR for Air was taken by General Lauris Norstad of the United States.