740.5/11–1450: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Embassy in the United Kingdom 1
niact
2523. Eyes only Spofford, Douglas, Bruce, McCloy. 1. As implied in our preceding tel no. 2507, Nov 14, we feel that there are many aspects of Fr plan that are still unclear to us and that Alphand proposals while professing to set forth clear cut plan seem to us not to have been thought through either in broad design or in essential detail.
2. Our mil confirm this impression after study of Gen Ely’s proposals (given them yesterday) in mil field which they consider militarily impractical as presented and designed to support Fr political objective of political federation of Europe. For example, our mil feel that a balanced unit of divisional strength is smallest national unit which can be handled efficiently with respect to procurement, supply and mil administration. This however wld not automatically preclude a time phased program under which a Ger contribution cld be limited to RCTs during first period after which there wld be re-examination based on the experience to date, military needs etc.
[Page 453]3. Moreover, Alphand proposal wld seem to require federated procurement supply and administrative system as well as federated arrangements covering mil law, promotions, etc. We do not see how it wld be possible set up such federated system short of very real steps towards economic and political federation of Eur. This is basic problem. If the European countries agreed to such federation an early solution cld probably be found and all else in Fr plan wld follow. We think however that Fr eyes are closed to political objections of other Eur NAT members; leading them to underestimate time necessary accomplish federation and raises question of what is to be done in interim. Furthermore when Fr assert their plan does not require preliminary “total European federation” their reliance on Schuman plan assembly with the resulting claim that implementation is a matter of 2 or 3 months are ample proof that they have not carried their study to point of fully appreciating the requisite for a workable common production and supply set-up for European forces and the budget and other institutions and administrative devices obviously required.
4. Fr have said that pending signature of treaty creating Eur army they wld agree to certain interim measures such as preparation for recruitment in Ger and building of barracks subj to double condition that these measures will not be permitted obstruct later formation of Eur army and will not include up to date creation of Eur army the training and presumably the recruitment of Ger mil personnel. Our doubts as to speed with which complex negotiations for a treaty estab a Eur army and Defense Minister can be pressed forward suggest to us that we shld not agree to Fr conditions as proposed. Believe we shld explore possibility of some interim solution which wld permit interim recruitment and training of Ger units which as training advances cld later be incorporated into some satisfactory larger units. In connection with this latter point, however, the ultimate size of a Ger unit must in final analysis depend on whether or not it will be really effective from mil view point.
5. Foregoing give some indication of broad range of questions suggested by Alphand proposals. There follow other questions which require elucidation before we can accurately assess content and real purpose of Fr proposals. We urgently desire any light which you can throw on these questions. We do not believe it wld be wise at this time to address these questions directly to Fr but suggest that you may wish to keep them in mind in exploring Fr proposals, as you undoubtedly will in conversation with Fr or other Deps.
[Here follow a presentation of the more specific questions referred to in paragraph 5 and a notation to the effect that the substance of this telegram had been discussed with the Defense Department though the telegram itself had not been cleared by that Department.]
- Repeated to Paris, 2622, eyes only for Bruce, and to Frankfort, 3600, eyes only for McCloy.↩