840.20/1–749: Telegram
The Ambassador in Belgium (Kirk) to the Acting Secretary of State
top secret
Brussels, January 7,
1949—10 p. m.
36. High Foreign Office official informs us that Belgian observations on “recent North Atlantic Pact paper” have been sent Silvercruys.1 [Page 14] Informant offered following strictly confidential information re Belgian thinking:
- 1.
- Belgians agree with US that geographic scope pact should be European, North American and Atlantic area lying between. However, Belgians do not like term “North American” since geographically it includes Mexico whereas pact actually applies to US, Canada, Alaska.
- 2.
- Belgians opposed inclusion Mediterranean and North Africa areas but willing if French constitutional requirements necessitate to include Algeria which constitutionally is a part of metropolitan France. Belgians believe inclusion any other North African territory would raise question of Congo, Turkey, Greece, Egypt, et cetera.
- 3.
- Belgians do not favor initial Italian adherence and tend to view that security of Italy is essentially Mediterranean problem which should eventually be covered by some form of Mediterranean regional agreement which would include Greece, Turkey, North Africa and possibly certain Arab states such as Egypt. Eventually such a Mediterranean system, the North Atlantic system and other regional arrangements should be grouped in a security system on world-wide scope. Among other considerations Belgians appear feel that initial extension North Atlantic system to Mediterranean area might complicate ratification by parliaments of certain countries.
- 4.
- At present Belgians apparently would prefer not to have pact come into force until all initial signatories have ratified. While recognizing this might delay entry into force of pact Belgians at same time appear somewhat apprehensive over possibility that under envisaged system (where pact would become effective between ratifying states when a majority of signatories have ratified) “a situation might arise where pact would enter into force without one of most important participants, for example US or France”.
- 5.
- Belgians hope duration of treaty will be for longest possible period.
Kirk
- Baron Silvercruys, Belgian Ambassador in the United States.↩