840.00/5–748
The Director of the Policy Planning Staff
(Kennan) to the Under Secretary of State (Lovett)
top secret
[Washington,] May 7, 1948.
Mr. Lovett: Mr. Bohlen, Mr. Hickerson and I
now are in agreement on the text of the attached revision of the paper
regarding Western
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Union.1 If you and the Secretary approve, the paper now should be sent
to Admiral Souers for the consideration of members of the National
Security Council and for discussion at a Council meeting.
A letter to Admiral Souers for your signature is attached.2
[Enclosure]
The Problem
The purpose of this paper is to recommend a course of action designed
to support the free nations of Europe adequately: to strengthen
their determination to resist aggression, to increase their
confidence that they can successfully do so, and to reduce the risk
of war by deterring any government from attempting further
aggression through confronting it with evidence of collective
determination, including that of the United States, to resist.
recommendations
- 1.
- A resolution to be worked out in detail with the Foreign
Relations Committee along the lines of the attached
draft.
- 2.
- After introduction of the resolution, the Department to
undertake the Washington conversations requested by Bevin and
Bidault with representatives of the British, French and Benelux Governments. They would
be advised that the President is prepared to authorize U.S.
participation in the London Five Power military talks with a
view to: (a) concerting military plans
for use in the event that the U.S.S.R. should resort in the
short term future to aggressive action in Germany, Austria or
elsewhere in Europe, and (b) drawing up a
coordinated military supply plan on the lines set forth in
paragraph 3 below. We would seek to convince them of the wisdom
of proceeding with military talks during the next several months
without seeking any U.S. commitment more formal than that given
in the President’s March 17 message and the Senate Resolution at
least until there has been more time for the development and
practical implementation of the Brussels Treaty system.
-
- The Department would explore with the five Governments the
problem of increasing the security of Norway, Denmark, Iceland,
Italy
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and perhaps
Portugal and Sweden through integration into or through some
form of association with the Brussels Treaty system or
otherwise.
-
- The Department would seek to arrange Canadian participation in
the London military talks, provided the Canadian Government is
prepared to take part.
- 3.
- The Department of National Defense to participate in the
continuing military conversations in London. It would be made
clear throughout that the ERP
precedent should be followed and that: (1) they must first plan
their coordinated defense with the means presently available,
(2) they must then determine how their collective military
potential can be increased by coordinated production and supply,
including standardization of equipment, (3) we would then be
prepared to consider and screen their estimates of what
supplementary assistance from us was necessary, (4) we would
expect reciprocal assistance from them to the greatest extent
practicable, and (5) legislation would be necessary to provide
significant amounts of military equipment but the President
would not be prepared to recommend it unless the foregoing
conditions have been met.
- 4.
- If, as a result of its diplomatic talks with the British,
French and Benelux
representatives, the U.S. Government became convinced that some
further political commitment was necessary at this time to
bolster public confidence in Western Europe, the U.S. Government
to discuss with the parties to the Brussels Treaty some form of
association by the U.S., and if possible Canada, with them along
the lines recommended in the Senate resolution. No U.S.
commitment would be entered into in such talks without the
fullest bipartisan clearance here. Nothing would be done
requiring Congressional action prior to next January.
