S/S–NSC Files: Lot 63 D 351: NSC 82 Series
Memorandum by the Secretary of Defense (Marshall) for the Executive Secretary, National Security Council (Lay)
Subject: U.S. Position Regarding Strengthening the Defense of Europe and the Nature of Germany’s Contribution Thereto.
The Defense Committee met in Washington on October 28, 30 and 31, 1950 and, among other business, acted on defense arrangements as requested by the North Atlantic Council at its Fifth Session. The defense matters coming to the attention of the Defense Committee were reported to you by the Department of State as information to the National Security Council, October 9, 1950.*
The question of the contribution of Germany to the defense of Western Europe was discussed by the United States on the basis of a proposal prepared in comformity with NSC 821 and the United States position presented at the New York Council meeting. The United States proposal was countered by a proposal from the Government of France. At the outset the French Representative made it clear that he was not authorized to discuss the United States proposal. Further discussions in the Committee were therefore centered on the French plan. This proposal, which has been published in the press, is essentially dependent on securing a further step toward the federation of the Western European countries and under that federation the creation of military units of a supra-national character by pooling the available manpower of the European powers, including Germany.
The French plan did not satisfy the Defense Ministers as having military value and appeared to be politically unacceptable to some of the countries. It was quite clear that all were opposed to the French proposal. It was apparent also that no compromise could be reached at the present session. The United States thereupon declined to finalize arrangements for an integrated European defense force and the appointment of a supreme commander until the contribution of Germany had been decided. The other Ministers received this as tantamount to the U.S. declining to send additional U.S. forces or staffs to Europe until agreement had been reached.
In an effort to reach a conclusion, to the satisfaction of all parties, it was decided that the Defense Committee would meet again on the creation of a European defense force with the inclusion of German [Page 439] units. In order to permit modification of the present impasse, it was agreed that the military and political aspects of the German problem would be studied by the Military Committee and the Council Deputies, respectively, and that these two Committees meet in joint session to present their recommendations to the Defense Committee.
It is requested that you circulate this memorandum to the members of the National Security Council for their information.2
- Progress Report, dated October 9, 1950, by the Department of State on NSC 82. [Footnote in the source text.]↩
- NSC 82, September 11, 1950, is the same as the joint communication of September 8 from the Secretary of State and Secretary of Defense to President Truman, p. 273.↩
- Circulated on November 8, 1950.↩