840.20/11–2948: Telegram
The Ambassador in Belgium (Kirk) to the Secretary of State
2087. Talking further with Spaak on North Atlantic pact along lines Deptel 1566 November 22 I found his position on original membership already modified possibly due to word from Silvercruys and now he says he feels of course any country US wishes invite join such regional association will be quite satisfactory to Belgium. However he goes on say that naturally very careful diplomatic preparation will be required in each particular situation to ensure that sentiment and timing are ripe for favorable response since any hesitation or refusal to accept could be exploited to disadvantage of all. For example he says MacBride has intimated Ireland’s adhesion to any pact including UK would be conditioned on Northern Ireland being united to Eire (as in London’s 4998, November 25)1 and when asked his own reaction Spaak shrugged shoulders and said this shows how carefully one must proceed in negotiations as delicate as these.
Spaak indicated De Gasperi had been cautious and reserved during conversation last week on subject of Italian participation in Brussels Pact saying Italian national sentiment had not yet sufficiently crystallized and observed that in democracies adequate popular support was essential. De Gasperi was stated to have expressed need for time to educate his people and mentioned considerable feeling against UK prevalent in Italy today.
Contrary to Spaak’s apprehension that De Gasperi would drag in question of future of Italian colonies in connection with Italy’s adherence to Brussels Pact (not in connection with Atlantic pact mytel 2052, November 201) Spaak says De Gasperi did not try link two subjects nor did he intimate that revision military clause Italian treaty essential prerequisite. In this connection De Gasperi reportedly remarked that it was premature to worry about Italy’s military strength since only five divisions of Italy were currently in existence out of possible total of twenty and rest could not be equipped in immediate future.
In respect of geographical area to be comprised in Atlantic pact Spaak realized our need for northwest African bases but is dubious regarding wisdom drawing thirtieth parallel north latitude as southern limit. (This delimitation heretofore unknown me.) He says he is uncertain how far to eastward we intend to go remarking that evidently Turkey, Greece and Egypt are important factors in defense of “North Africa”. But what concerns him most from Belgian angle is drawing [Page 299] this line so far north of Congo. To present and defend pact before his Parliament which makes no explicit provisions for protection Congo (with its uranium deposits) will require some considerable cogitation and political acumen. (I recommend you reflect on this and perhaps reassure Belgians as to our attitude.)
While Spaak freely accepts our strategic need for inclusion Iceland and Greenland he seemed skeptical concerning further positive Scandinavian contribution since he estimates only factor of military strength that region is Swedish army. He is not hostile in any way to such extension of membership and he appreciates Denmark’s suzerainty over Greenland. Portugal he supposes will retain her traditional relationship with England and thus automatically support any regional combination to which UK is party. In connection with importance Portuguese position he remarked that air bases in Azores seemed already available but re general question of Iberian Peninsula he was very reserved about Spain saying this was separate and serious political problem.
In matter of rate of progress Spaak still hopes that views five nations Brussels Pact can be presented examined and agreement reached with Canada and US by early January. I think he now accepts that definitive action on our part will take much longer especially in view our desire to broaden membership. I also think Spaak feels stronger regional groupment would result initially from keeping membership limited and building up military strength such close-knit organization. Nevertheless Spaak will appreciate strategic reasons for our predilection certain areas which I presume will be developed during forthcoming Washington conversations. However I felt in his reaction whole subject certain note of caution concerning excursions into countries where national political thinking was less advanced than ours as he commented several times on fortunate American international political situation wherein thinking on foreign policies was largely bipartisan.
Sent Department 2087, repeated London 200. Sent also to Rome, Paris and The Hague.