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

840.20/11–1849: Telegram

The Secretary of State to the Embassy in the United Kingdom ¹

secret
priority

Washington, November 18, 1949—noon.

4159. Dept has advised missions 8 Atlantic Pact countries sched receive mil assistance importance bilateral agreements be signed prior mtg Defense Comite Paris Dec. 1.² Dept pointed out if Defense Comite approves plan for integrated defense Pact area and this receives quick approval Council and Pres, under terms MDAP leg full $1 bil will be available for expenditure for mil assistance Pact countries. If bilaterals have not been negotiated prior that time and therefore no assistance cld be made available under terms leg reaction here will be most unfavorable. Accordingly, if you perceive no objection, Dept would appreciate if you cld stress to FonOff urgency concluding negots and sig[ning] bilaterals prior to Defense Comite mtg. In this connection you might point out that failure to proceed quickly on bilaterals will necessarily become known to press and apparent apathy European countries to move quickly in taking advantage US assistance in strengthening common defense of area will be most unfortunate. Also point out Dept officials available at any time to discuss terms bilaterals in Wash.

Acheson

1. Repeated to Paris as 4457, The Hague 1040, Brussels 1352, Luxembourg 60, Oslo 563, Copenhagen 564, and Rome 2937.
2. The recipient countries of the NAT were at this time studying the terms of a draft bilateral agreement on Mutual Defense Assistance dated November 2, 1949. A copy of the draft, not printed, is in Department of State file No. 840.20/12–1449.