711.00/11–848: Telegram
The Secretary of State in Paris to the Acting Secretary of State
urgent
Martel 117. Personal and eyes only for Lovett from Marshall. Please pass following message to Forrestal:
“Dear Forrestal: Reference your letter of 31 October,1 repeated to me in radio message WAR–91804, my views follow:
The responsibility which this country bears in the world today cannot be expected to diminish until there has been a substantial return of strength and stability to the free nations of Europe. There are no grounds for expecting any decisive accretion of strength to the natural allies of the United States by the end of the current fiscal year.
The responsibilities of the United States as a factor restraining aggressive action on the part of the Soviet Union will remain unchanged insofar as any present estimates are concerned. The only new element in the European situation since last spring is the situation in Berlin and the continuance of the Soviet blockade.
In short, I would say that while there are certain optimistic portents for the long-range future, we must expect for the current fiscal year a situation which is neither better nor worse than that which we have faced in 1948 insofar as it affects the ceiling of our military establishment.
There is a further consideration which relates to the two factors just mentioned. Our policy should be to build up Western Europe ground forces which means the provision of munitions. We should not, at this stage, proceed to build up US ground forces for the express purpose of employing them in Western Europe.”