740.5/8–350: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the United States High Commissioner for Germany (McCloy), at Frankfort
943. Eyes only for McCloy from Byroade. This cable has no distribution on Wash end. Just prior to receipt your 962 I had written a paper on how the formation of a “European Army” might be approached without much consideration as to why such a concept must be adopted. You have now supplied the missing portion with great clarity in ur 962 and our thinking seems to fit so closely together that knowledge of my paper at this time and in this informal fashion may serve to advance the concept between us before departure of Gerhardt. [Page 184] My paper has not as yet been considered by Dept. It was developed without much regard to existing organizations or machinery in an effort to present a theoretical solution from which one cld work backwards with a compromise between the theoretical and what is already in existence. Text of paper follows:
[Here follows the Byroade paper entitled “An Approach to the Formation of a ‘European Army’”. It first discussed the basic elements of such an army under five headings: (1) recruitment, (2) procurement and supply, (3) organization, (4) General Staff direction and command, and (5) overall direction by governments and heads of state. It then considered the general approach to such an army in terms (1) of timing the announcement to the availability of equipment and readiness of West European nations and Germany to accept the plan and (2) of resolving certain problems that would face the United States in regard to the complicated interrelationships of an American Commander in Europe, a Combined Chiefs of Staff arrangement, the presence of U.S. forces in Europe, and the provision of military equipment.1]
- McCloy, in an eyes only reply to Byroade (telegram 1022, August 7, not printed), referred to telegram 943 as follows: “Have developed some preliminary thoughts which Gerhardt will give you on his arrival in Washington. Recognize the difficulty of some of the problems which you mention. I intend to discuss the general question and problems arising out of the creation of a European army with Douglas, Spofford and Bruce and will send you my further thoughts on this subject after discussion with them. I will not refer to your cable since I notice you did not repeat to London and Paris. I think we are on the right track and should press it vigorously.” (740.5/8–750)↩