Foreign Relations of the United States, 1948, Western Europe, Volume III

851.24/10–1048

Memorandum by the Deputy Chief of Staff for Plans and Combat Operations, U.S. Army (Wedemeyer) for the Secretary of State

top secret

[Washington,] 10 October 1948.

1. The Department of the Army was informed by General Clay on July 30, 1948 that he had received from General Koenig a list of spare parts and equipment required to place three French divisions in the occupied zone of Germany in combat condition. General Clay estimated that without this equipment these divisions were less than fifty percent combat worthy. Of the items required, about one-third could be furnished from excess stocks of the European Command; the remaining two-thirds would have to be furnished from the United States, either from existing stocks or by procurement from industry. It was estimated that the total cost of providing the required spare parts and equipment would be approximately two and a quarter million dollars. Of this total, the direct cost of implementing the transaction, including necessary procurement, handling and transportation costs would amount to three hundred and eighty thousand dollars of which two hundred and twenty five thousand dollars would be required for procurement.

2. On September 13, 1948 the Secretary of Defense and the Joint Chiefs of Staff approved the recommendations of the Chief of Staff, U.S. Army¹ and on September 16, 1948 the National Security Council recommended to the President that he, acting within his plenary powers as Commander in Chief, as head of the State in its relations with foreign countries, and for the purpose of protecting primary security interests of the U.S. and of the U.S. Armed Forces in Europe, direct the transfer of the required spare parts and equipment, to include procurement where necessary, by the U.S. Armed Forces to the French Government. On the same date, September 16, 1948, the President approved the recommendations of the National Security Council and directed that these recommendations be implemented by all appropriate Executive Departments and Agencies of the U.S. Government under the coordination of the Secretary of State. On September 17, 1948 the Department of the Army directed that this program be implemented by all appropriate agencies of the Army. The Department of State authorized the U.S. Ambassador to France, on September 20, 1948, to inform the Foreign Minister of the assistance being provided to the French Army of Occupation by the U.S. Armed Forces.

3. As a result of the directive issued by the Department of the Army on September 17, 1948, the European Command on October 4, 1948 shipped its portion of this equipment to the French Army at Rastatt, Germany. The equipment to be furnished from the United States, except that which must be procured from industry, is expected to arrive at Bremerhaven, Germany in two shipments, November 1, 1948 and November 15, 1948, where it will be shipped directly to the French Army at Eastatt. The items of equipment to be procured from industry, about one-ninth of the total, will be furnished over a period of three to six months.²

4. At the request of General Lutes,³ a copy of this memorandum has been furnished to the Secretary of Defense.

A. C. Wedemeyer

Lieutenant General, GSC

1. Gen. Omar N. Bradley.
2. On January 25, 1950, James E. Webb, Under Secretary of State, notified the National Security Council as follows: “The action contemplated by NSC 31 has been completed and periodic progress reports are therefore being discontinued.”
3. Lt. Gen. LeRoy Lutes, Director of Staff of the Munitions Board, National Military Establishment.