840.00/7–1449: Telegram
The Ambassador in the United Kingdom (Douglas) to the Secretary of State
2754. 1. As Department aware US now has observers at all levels WU except Consultative Council and Permanent Commission. I feel time has now arrived when it may be desirable for us to have an observer at meetings of Permanent Commission when MAP affairs are under discussion, and when presence of US representative agreeable WU. This seems desirable because:
- a.
- As MAP develops, we will undoubtedly have more and more matters of political nature on which we will wish to approach Brussels treaty powers as a unit. At present, we must make such an approach separately, in each of the WU capitals, or through the British, in effect asking the British to be our spokesman with the other members of WU. We have done the latter, for example, with respect to the relatively minor matter of the possible publication of a WU communiqué on defense. Both of these existing channels have obvious disadvantages.
- b.
- Brussels treaty Foreign Ministers, at Consultative Council meeting June 17–18, agreed that Permanent Commission should play more active coordinating role particularly on matters of defense. Thus from purely informational point of view, it is important we have first-hand information on PC discussions re defense.
2. If you agree with above, I will take up the matter with Bevin in near future. Assuming WU agree that we should have observer at certain PC meetings, I believe that executive director of ECC, when appointed, might be appropriate person to represent us.
3. At some time in future, it seems desirable that, as Chairman of ECC, I should sit with Consultative Council when it is discussing matters of concern to us. However, I believe it would not be timely just now to raise this with Bevin and other members of Council and feel we should let this matter rest, perhaps until after passage MAP legislation.
4. The above suggestions are made, of course, without knowledge your thinking re Atlantic Pact organization and might need modification depending on evolution MAP machinery.
Sent Department 2754, repeated Paris 532 for Harriman.