340.5/9–0750: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Embassy in France
1219. Amb Bonnet called on Sec Thursday1 and orally brought up the substance of Embtels 1204 and 1205, Sept 7. Fol is text letter2 being given him which covers points he raised:
“I thought it might be useful to give you our views on certain points which you raised orally with me yesterday.
I am sorry to learn that M. Pleven was disappointed with the results of the recent mtgs of the NAT Deputies. We here were rather encouraged by them since a start was made on immed action to deal with immed problems and the groundwork laid for dealing with longer range problems.
I quite understand the difficulties which your govt is facing in formulating its 1951 def budget. We hope to be in a position in the near future to discuss with your Govt concerete aspects of the Mil Def Assist Program for the coming year and for this purpose we are endeavoring to obtain certain further information through our Embassy in Paris.3 You will understand that assistance in the immediate future must be in accordance with existing legis. In view of the importance of obtaining passage of the pending MDAP legis before the adjournment of Congress, I am sure that it wld be a serious mistake to seek any changes in that legis at this time.
It goes without saying that we will put such assistance as Congress may auth to the most effective use possible for carrying out our common commitments under the NAT.
[Page 273]I am advised that Mr. Spofford took occasion during the recent London mtgs to advise M. Alphand orally in considerable detail of this Govts views with respect to the points raised in your Govts memoranda of Aug 5 and Aug 17. As you know, the latter memo was acted upon by the Deputies, who requested the Def Comite to study its mil aspects and set up themselves a special group to study its non-mil aspects. It will, of course, be possible to discuss these problems further at the forthcoming Fon Mins mtg in New York.
The UK, Fr and US Deputies cld also meet informally during or after the Council mtg, or at any other time, if it seemed at the time that such informal talks wld be productive. I think we will be in a better position at the Council mtg than we are now to judge how useful such talks wld be.”