740.5/9–350: Telegram
The Chargé in the United Kingdom (Holmes) to the Secretary of State
top secret
London, September
3, 1950—6 p. m.
Depto 101. Following text deputies resolution September 2 concerning increased defense efforts, D–D/65, final paragraph. [Page 263]
- 1.
-
NAC deputies have considered
general position with respect forces and equipment available for
defense NAA, and have reviewed
replies other member governments in response US inquiry
concerning need for increases in defensive measures. In so
doing, they have been guided by following considerations:
- (1)
- Achievement basic objectives NAT requires creation and maintenance adequate collective military strength by treaty members;
- (2)
- Military and economic burden raising and equipping forces to carry out med term defense plan must be frankly and urgently accepted;
- (3)
- Each member nation should bear equitable share burden.
- 2.
- Deputies conclude that:
- (1)
- Aggregate defensive efforts so far reported by member governments are still far short of requirements for defense NAA.
- 3.
- Deputies recommend that:
- (1)
- Member governments consider urgently, whether in light of their economic capabilities their presently declared defense efforts are adequate, and by what means they can contribute more to collective efforts required;
- (2)
- Member governments work toward equitable distribution among them of total collective effort required for common defense, devising through NATO means which would assure equitable distribution and so far as possible avoid disturbance economic structures their countries;
- (3)
- Member governments immediately take all possible additional military, production, and financial measures to expedite raising and equipment trained formations to be readily available for defense NAA.
- 4.
- Deputies decide that:
- (1)
- They will continue study action necessary close existing gap between measures hitherto contemplated and those required. This study will include problems involved in achieving equitable distribution burden adequate defense and means by which necessary efforts can be achieved with minimum economic disturbance.
- (2)
- They will take steps to collect further necessary information concerning defense efforts of member governments, and to this end will seek achieve, so far as possible, system uniform and periodic reports.
Department pass Ottawa, sent Department Depto 101, repeated info Brussels 66, Copenhagen 54, Hague 76, Lisbon 42, Oslo 42, Ottawa 27, Paris 380, for Embassy and OSR, Rome 98, Frankfort unnumbered, Luxembourg unnumbered, Heidelberg for Handy 36, pass Secretary of Defense.
Holmes