840.00/10–1548: Telegram
The Acting Secretary of State to the Secretary of State, at Paris
Telmar 77. Eyes only from Lovett. Joint Chiefs have informally asked our views on acceptance invitation conveyed Douglas’ 4525 Oct 15 (760 to you).1 They have anticipated this development for some time, regard it as step right direction and believe US participation should among other things reduce French anxiety concerning Combined Chiefs. Subject your approval2 I will advise Forrestal along following lines:
Decision as to US participation should be based primarily on military considerations. So far as political considerations are involved Dept desires strengthen morale Brussels Treaty countries and constantly to stimulate their efforts to coordinate and strengthen their defensive capacity. It believes US participation, naturally in non-member [Page 267] status, on same pattern as that being followed in Permanent Military Committee would have beneficial effects similar to those Lemnitzer reported as resulting from US participation in work of latter. Accordingly if NME finds that military considerations warrant US participation we would view it favorably. If NME finds it convenient to send officer of higher rank we believe this would also have beneficial effect.
- Telegram 4525 from London, not printed (840.00/10–1548), conveyed an invitation from the Brussels Pact Permanent Commission to participate in the work of the newly-created permanent Western Union Chiefs-of-Staff Committee.↩
- Marshall indicated his approval in his “eyes only” telegram to Lovett 62 of October 20 from Paris, not printed (840.00/10–2048).↩