840.00/5–1948
Memorandum by the Chief of the Division of Western European Affairs (Achilles) to the Director of the Office of European Affairs (Hickerson)
Donald McLean [Maclean] came in yesterday afternoon. He said that the Embassy had received another message from Bevin to the Secretary but had discretion as to whether or not to present it. The message again urged the desirability of negotiating a treaty at this [Page 128] time for the security of the North Atlantic Area. Since Chip1 and George Kennan had indicated strongly to Jock Balfour their belief that a treaty was not desirable, the Embassy was inclined not to present the message since it might merely produce a reply indicating United States unwillingness to conclude such a treaty.
I said I thought a further message would produce such a reply, that the Embassy’s judgment seemed sound and that there would be ample opportunity as and when the five-power talks started to present Bevin’s ideas on a treaty.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- Charles E. Bohlen, Special Assistant to the Secretary of State.↩