740.5/7–2950: Telegram
The United States Deputy Representative on the North Atlantic Council (Spofford) to the Secretary of State
priority
Depto 22. Following is substance statement I made Deputies meeting yesterday:
Begin. I should like make few remarks as we close this session. Presume many of you will return to seats your government, and think might be useful if I make resume my governments position re principal matter discussed here—how we can all best meet need for extraordinary efforts build up our defenses.
I have told you that your governments have been requested, as matter urgency, to indicate what increased efforts they contemplate taking to step up defense. I have stressed extreme importance we place on receiving reaction this request. I have told you that President US has already asked Congress for 10 billion for strengthening American armed forces. I have told you that he is prepared ask very substantial additional funds for military assistance to other NAT countries. It is proposed these additional funds will enable US increase its present arms aid and assist NATO countries in production and transfer arms. Action that Congress US will take on this request, will depend in large measure on assurance that other NAT countries are prepared take substantial steps toward commensurate action.
You have seen report Standing Group.1 Its conclusions are clear. We have before us inescapable fact that defensive strength available [Page 163] in North Atlantic community is deficient, and further that scale of build-up these forces that has obtained since inception of treaty has been likewise entirely inadequate.
Decision taken by my country, greatly to expand its defense effort, while it does not imply full mobilization, is nevertheless of such great magnitude that President has recognized it will call for sacrifices—that it cannot be undertaken in spirit of “business as usual”.
We have agreed that time for initial planning and perfectionism is past. Necessary decision is not whether we shall act, but how fully and quickly we will act to meet requirements which are known to all of us.
US has acted and is prepared act further to carry its full share of our mutual defense burdens. But US cannot and will not, carry total increased burden. Strength of economy of US, like that your countries, is vitally important. But important fact underlying whole concept NAT is something greater than that of economics. It is principle of mutual defense—mutual aid, self-help and faith in each other that each is doing and will do his full part.
All of us recognize importance preservation strength of economies, your countries. But all of us have come to point where we must pay heavy insurance premiums or risk total losses in civilization-destroying conflagration.
I mentioned earlier that like your legislative bodies Congress of US will scrutinize most carefully President’s request for substantially increased funds for military assistance other countries but in discharge of its responsibility to take this extraordinary action it will necessarily inquire as to extraordinary action taken by countries for which aid is intended.
US recognizes that full development potentials your countries to meet defense problem cannot be realized over night. There are implications of most profound political and social extent inherent in problem. But problem cannot be met except by extraordinary means; all information before us makes that clear. Our principal job, as deputies, seems to me to be make these facts just as clear to our governments.
My government asked your governments for such indications as can be given of their reactions to need for greater efforts for defense. It has asked for this indication in shortest possible time—by August 5. I hope that those of you who return to your capital cities will help to limit possible in formulation adequate responses by your governments in challenge winch faces us. End.
Felt here that strong statement desirable before Deputies left for consultation governments, also considered that may be of some help to you in establishing legislative record.
Sent Department Depto 22, repeated information Paris 165, Rome 39, Lisbon 11, Brussels 27, The Hague 27, Copenhagen 18, Oslo 13, Ottawa 6, Luxembourg unnumbered.
- Report by the Standing Group of the Military Committee to the Council Deputies on the status of defense planning within the NATO. In this report, Council Deputies’ Document D–D/4, the Standing Group recommended that the Deputies convince the governments of the NAT nations that they should take immediate action to increase the total effective, combat forces they planned to have in being on July 1, 1951, as a first step towards implementing the defense of the North Atlantic Area. D–D/4 not printed.↩