840.20/5–1448
The Acting Secretary of
State to the British Chargé (Balfour)
top secret
Washington, May 28, 1948.
Dear Jock: In the absence of the Secretary of
State, I am transmitting herewith his comments regarding the message
from Mr. Bevin dated May 14. Will you be good enough to communicate them
to Mr. Bevin?
Very sincerely yours,
[Enclosure]
Comments by the Secretary of State on Mr Bevin’s
Message of May 14
Secretary Marshall has received Mr. Bevin’s message of May 14 and is
grateful for the statement of his views on the problem of a
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defense pact for the North
Atlantic area. He recognizes the importance which Mr. Bevin attaches
to continued progress in rallying the free nations in the face of
the aggressive attitudes with which they have been faced from other
quarters and the significance of a possible North Atlantic pact for
the solution of this problem. Mr. Bevin is aware of the strong
desire of the United States Government to assist in strengthening
the ability of the free nations of Europe to resist aggression and
their confidence that they can successfully do so, and to assist in
deterring aggression by making clear that it would react immediately
and vigorously against any armed attack affecting its national
security.
Mr. Bevin will have noted the resolution1
unanimously reported on May 19 by the Senate Foreign Relations
Committee recommending United States association, by constitutional
process, with such regional and other collective arrangements as are
based on continuous self-help and mutual aid and as affect its
national security. He will undoubtedly have noted the significance
of the paragraph in the resolution recommending that the United
States make clear its determination to exercise its right of
individual or collective self-defense should any armed attack occur
affecting its national security. The Committee’s report emphasizes
that the lessons of World Wars I and II show that the best deterrent
to aggression is the certainty that immediate and effective
counter-measures will be taken and that the United States would, by
making clear in advance that any such attack would meet immediate
American reaction, “take an important step in the direction of
removing any dangerous uncertainties that might mislead potential
aggressors.”
This resolution reflects the development of public opinion in the
United States in these matters and the seriousness and good will
with which they are being studied in Washington. Secretary Marshall
feels that the importance of these matters and the necessity for
wide and whole-hearted public support in the United States require
that they be approached with the greatest prudence and
circumspection and full development of the facts. Hasty or
ill-prepared action could easily promote disunity rather than unity
both in the United States and among European countries. It will be
clear to Mr. Bevin that there is no possibility of completing the
necessary negotiation of these matters in time to permit
Congressional consideration at the present session. The time between
the impending adjournment of the present session of Congress and its
reconvening in January can nevertheless well be utilized for the
explorations and conversations which will in any case be necessary.
The United States will of course give full consideration
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to the views of the
British, French, and Benelux
countries in these conversations.
