840.50 Recovery/7–1748: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Embassy in France
2771. For Harriman from Lovett. Reur message (unno. July 17 noon)1 on the necessity of higher caliber personnel being assigned to OEEC: we are in complete agreement on the necessity of the participating countries mobilizing their best manpower for OEEC. The necessity of an all-out effort to build OEEC into strong effective organization has been urged frequently on reps of participating countries and we expressly and strongly urged that Exec Comm be composed of ministers (see Dept’s 1197 Apr 6 to London, rptd Paris as 1113; 1324 Apr 14 to London,2 rptd Paris as 1226; also Dept’s 1146 Apr 8 to Paris—see para 9, rptd London as 1224). I have, however, a few comments as to method of again bringing this matter to attention of participating countries which you may wish to consider.
I fully agree that it would be useful to have a prior discussion with Spaak. He has consistently maintained that Europeans would tend to coast unless US maintained constant pressure upon them for effective cooperation, and he will presumably be in agreement with you and anxious himself to prod his colleagues. In order to obtain his considered views, you may wish to give him advance notice of what you plan to discuss with him.
I also agree with your suggestion that Douglas and Finletter see Bevin and Cripps, particularly since principal opposition to establishment of a strong organization has consistently come from British.
There may well be some serious resistance to moving in the direction we desire. I believe this resistance and possible resentment on the part of participating countries might be minimized if, during your and Hoffman’s talks with ministers of ERP countries in Paris, reference [Page 472] is made to past discussions among participating countries themselves as to nature of organization. I understand that at time OEEC organization discussed in Paris this spring it was envisaged by participating countries that Council and Exec Comm should meet as required at two levels—at ministerial level for decisions on basic policy problems and at official level for action within those decisions. It might be desirable to refer to this earlier recognition by participating countries of need for meetings of ministers and to urge that fundamental problems confronting participating countries now require consideration at this higher level. This approach would of course be most effective if we could indicate the type of basic policy problems we have in mind as requiring immediate consideration.
Meetings at two levels should go part way toward solving the dilemma posed by the necessity for the Exec Comm to handle day-to-day working problems of the organization and at the same time be of sufficiently high caliber to face up to fundamental issues.
It would seem also that an important step forward lies in strengthening functions of secretariat. Although I share your view that it would be desirable to obtain a man of international standing to direct the work of the secretariat, there is considerable doubt here that such a person could be attracted to position as it has been thus far envisaged by participating countries. I feel it is important therefore, both from the standpoint of relieving the Exec Comm of routine work and of strengthening the secretariat, to urge that increased responsibilities be given the latter. [Lovett.]
- In his unnumbered top secret cable of July 17, 1948, not printed, Special Representative Harriman expressed concern at the caliber of men originally assigned by Europe to OEEC work and urged that its most highly qualified personnel be put on the job if success was to be achieved (840.50 Recovery/7–1748).↩
- Telegram 1324 to London, not printed.↩