840.00/3–1948
Memorandum by Mr. George H. Butler of the Policy Planning Staff
Points for Discussion at S/P Meeting March 19, 3 P. M.
Policy papers regarding the position of the United States with respect to Western Union and related problems, and with respect to Soviet-directed world Communism are under preparation in the Department and also by the staff of the NSC.
The following basic questions require decision:
- 1.
- Since concentration of U.S. effort is essential in order that our strength will not be wasted by dispersing it too widely, the problem is to phrase a statement about U.S. military assistance in such a way as to cover those countries whose continued freedom is most essential to U.S. security, and at the same time to avoid a statement that might invite Communist aggression against countries not included in such a first priority list.
- 2.
- Various suggestions have been made regarding means of assuring
non-Communist countries that they will receive effective U.S.
support:
- (a)
- A treaty of reciprocal military assistance, based on Article 51 of the Charter of the United Nations, to be negotiated with selected countries, but not necessarily on a regional basis. UNA has prepared a draft of such a treaty.1
- (b)
- A regional treaty, in accordance with Article 52 of the Charter of the United Nations, providing for the establishment of a North Atlantic-Mediterranean Regional Organization which also would undertake reciprocal military assistance in accordance with Article 51 of the Charter of the United Nations. EUR has prepared a draft1 of such a treaty, which appears to be a combination of the Inter-American Treaty signed at Rio de Janeiro and the recent agreement [Page 59] signed at Brussels by Great Britain, France and the three Benelux countries.
- (c)
- The NSC staff recommends a unilateral assurance by the United States to the nations in Western Union that the United States will consider armed attack by the USSR or its satellites against any one of these nations to constitute armed attack against the United States under the provisions of Article 51 of the Charter of the United Nations; and initiation of political and military conversations with nations of the Western Union and other selected non-Communist nations with a view to coordinating our anti-Communist efforts and strengthening our collective security.
- 3.
- Suggestions had been made that at an appropriate time the
Kremlin should be clearly and unmistakably informed of United
States determination to resist Soviet and Soviet-directed
Communist aggression and to give effective support to countries
that are seeking to retain their freedom.
The following draft is suggested for the statement referred to in paragraph 1:
“The United States should concentrate its counter-offensive efforts against Soviet-directed world Communism so that our strength will not be wasted by dispersing it too widely, and first priority should be given to those countries of Europe and the Middle East which are immediately threatened by world Communism and whose loss of Freedom would most seriously threaten our national security.”