740.5/10–1950: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Embassy in France 1
2061. ReDeptel 2019 Oct 18 to Paris. This afternoon at second mtg reps of NAT DefMins Mr. Lovett tabled Ger paper.2 He explained we did not expect discussion today. Paper was expression of US views on subj and US wld be very glad receive informal views and comments other NAT countries as well as any new ideas they might have on subj. He proposed detailed discussions wld begin Mon Oct 23, by which time it wld have been studied and possible govt reactions obtained.
Bonnet (Fr) replied by repeating position he took yesterday set forth in reftel. He reiterated misunderstanding must exist since Moch understood from his discussions here that reps would not talk about Ger participation and that US wld not bring up subj.
Mr. Lovett reviewed what he had said yesterday, i. e. we fully realize Fr rep was not authorized discuss this ques and there was no obligation for him to do so. It wld probably however be useful for Bonnet to hear views other reps by being present in capacity of observer without in any way engaging his responsibility or that of his govt. US would not presume to limit discussion on this or other subjects on the agenda and presumed other reps including Fr felt same way. Re ques of misunderstanding Mr. Lovett admitted possibility but said he did not believe it cld have occurred on US side since memo of conversation of the Marshall–Moch talks made clear fact that we wld table paper on Ger participation which wld be discussed but that we wld not expect Fr to enter into the discussion. He disagreed with Bonnet’s view that reps discussion of Ger participation wld not be useful and felt such exchanges of views wld bring forth helpful suggestions or new ideas from other govts thus facilitating formal Oct 28 discussions prior to which no commitments cld be made.
Bonnet concluded by stating that in the NY discussions between Acheson–Marshall and Schuman–Moch the Fr had made it clear that Fr parl and govt wld not have studied Ger participation ques and reached conclusion prior to Oct 28. Therefore it seemed probable that Fr wld not be in position discuss matter until Oct 28.
The matter was left with the understanding that reps wld next meet at 4 p m Oct 23 at which time they might first (if Brussels Pact [Page 397] nations so desired) discuss possible recommendations to Def Comite re elimination of duplication in mil structure of Brussels Pact and proposed new Eur integrated force, fol which discussion wld begin on Ger participation. (FYI US position on Brussels Pact mil machinery is that it shld be phased out of existence as rapidly as possible after new command structure for integrated force is agreed.)