Office of the Historian

740.5/8–2250: Telegram

The United States Deputy Representative on the North Atlantic Council (Spofford) to the Secretary of State

top secret
London, August 22, 1950—midnight.

Depto 59. Distribution as directed by Secretary’s Office. I intend on August 24 to reply orally along following lines to Alphand’s oral approach of July 27:1

Numbers correspond to those in Depto 27, July 31:

1.
US Government in full agreement as to indispensability organizing defense of West. Both Congress and executive branch have made amply clear by acts as well as words importance and urgency they attach to this task.
2.
Importance of having available forces adequate to meet initial shock recognized by Council in May (resolution 4/8)2 and military agencies of NATO are planning accordingly. JCS is studying US role in this task.
3.
(a) (b) Reports of standing group and MP SB–PWS constitute substantial steps in determining nature and quantity of matériel necessary and allocation of its production. US will continue to press that these recommendations be translated into actual production at earliest possible date and will consider other means to achieve combined production program.
3.
(c) Equitable allocation of financial burdens must be negotiated in light of circumstances and will be continuing process.
4.
Establishment of any sort of common fund would obviously require careful study, protracted negotiations, and legislation.
5.
We are aware of special problems of France as well as of special and common problems which we and other countries face including, for example, Korea.
6.
In order not to delay implementation of urgent essential programs pending negotiations re division of financial burdens, each nation should proceed forthwith to implement its part of high priority production and additional forces programs. Initial problem is of course budgetary rather than one of transfer.
7.
I realize the burden which France is bearing in Indochina but it is not my province to discuss them.
8.
Importance of securing effective common action by the parties to the treaty was recognized by Foreign Ministers in May, in the resolution which established deputies. US Government is itself considering and is always glad to consider further steps designed to secure more effective common action.
9.
French supplementary memorandum of August 17 is being actively considered by US Government and our views will be communicated to French Government as soon as possible.

Sent Department Depto 59; repeated information Paris 285 for Ambassador’s eyes only.

[Spofford]
  1. See Depto 18, July 28, 1 a. m., p. 148. The line taken by Spofford as outlined below was approved in telegram Todep 40 to London (repeated to Paris), August 23, not printed; 740.5/8–2250. Spofford’s conversation with Alphand took place on the afternoon of August 27 and is described in Depto 73 of that date, not printed (740.5/8–2750).↩
  2. Not identified in Department of State central files or NATO Sub-Registry files.↩