Foreign Relations of the United States, 1949, Western Europe, Volume IV

Requests From the Brussels Treaty Powers to the United States Government for Military Assistance¹

April 5, 1949.

1. Since the signature of the Brussels Treaty the five Governments [United Kingdom, France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg] have had under consideration a common defence programme. Convinced of the necessity for such a programme, they believe that its formulation and application must be based on entire solidarity between them. They have reached the conclusion that if this defence programme is to be effective the material assistance of the United States Government is essential. The principles on which the programme should be based are set out in the following paragraphs.

2. The main principles would be self-help, mutual aid, and common action in defence against an armed attack. The immediate objective is the achievement of arrangements for collective self-defence between the Brussels Treaty Powers within the terms of the Charter of the United Nations. The programme would be considered as a further step in the development of Western European security in the spirit of the statement made by President Truman to Congress on March 17, 1948,² the day of the signature of the Brussels Treaty. It would be in accordance with the general objective of Article 3 of the North Atlantic Pact, and would result in each Party, consistent with its situation and resources, contributing in the most effective form such mutual aid as could reasonably be expected of it. It would also be in accordance with the principles expressed in the Resolution of the Senate of the United States of June 11, 1948.³

3. The military strength of the participating Powers should be developed without endangering economic recovery and the attainment of economic viability, which should accordingly have priority.

4. In applying these general principles of a common defence programme the signatories of the Brussels Treaty attach importance to the following points:

a. The armed forces of the European participating countries should be developed on a coordinated basis in order that in the event of aggression they can operate in accordance with a common strategic plan.

b. They should be integrated so as to give the maximum efficiency with the minimum necessary expenditure of manpower, money, and materials.

c. Increased military effort, including increased arms production, should be consistent with economic objectives and the maintenance of economic viability. Additional local currency costs should be met from non-inflationary sources.

d. Arrangements concerning the transfer of military equipment and supplies for such production among the European participating countries should permit transfer, in so far as possible, without regard to foreign exchange problems and without disrupting the intra-European payment scheme.

5. In order to carry out a common defence programme on the basis of the above principles, there is urgent need for United States material and financial assistance. The Signatories of the Brussels Treaty will therefore be glad to learn whether the United States Government is prepared to provide this assistance to them.

6. In the event of a favourable reply in relation to the above request, a detailed statement of the specific needs of the signatories of the Brussels Treaty for the year 1949–1950 will be transmitted to the United States Government at the earliest possible date.

1. Department of State Bulletin, April 17, 1949, p. 494. This request was presented to the Department by the Luxembourg Minister, Le Gallais, as representative of his Foreign Minister, Joseph Bech, Chairman of the Consultative Committee of the Brussels Treaty Powers.
2. Extracts of President Truman’s address which relate to the Brussels Treaty are printed in Foreign Relations, 1948, vol. iii, p. 54. For complete text, see Department of State Bulletin, March 28, 1948, p. 418.
3. Senate Resolution 239, 80th Congress. For text, see Foreign Relations, 1948, vol. iii, p. 135.