840.20/7–1449: Telegram

The Secretary of State to the Embassy in the United Kingdom

top secret

2476. Dept fully concurs recommendation your 2754, July 14 (532 to Paris) that you should approach Bevin after Senate has completed action on Pact re obtaining agreement for US observers to attend mtgs Permanent Commission. Agreeable that observer be Executive Director ECC when appointed. In actual operation this will have to be handled so as not to give cause to non-WU Atlantic Pact countries for suspicion that we are minimizing their interest by concentration on WU activities. Believe this can be satisfactorily handled by relationship established between Executive Director of ECC, our Ambassadors and representatives of such countries.

Department concurs your paragraph 3 that at an appropriate time you should raise question of your sitting with Consultative Council when discussing matters of interest to US. Department agreeable to leaving timing to you.

Acheson