740.5/11–1750: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the United States Deputy Representative on the North Atlantic Council (Spofford), at London1
priority
Todep 104. For Spofford. Reference your series of questions in Depto 193 pertaining to organization and control within Ger in connection with their participation in common defense.
You will have noted our tentative suggestions on this range of problems contained in 25142 and 2523, Nov 14 to London and that your plan as contained in Depto 182 varies somewhat from suggestions we had put forward.
It is extremely difficult for us to develop plans here on this subject in any detail, as McCloy wld be the best judge of feasibility of such arrangements in Ger. We have, therefore, requested HICOG by telephone to provide you direct with such additional guidance as they can prior to your Monday meeting, with copy here.
Although we see the necessity of discussion on this phase of the problem in the NATO forum, we believe it wld be a mistake for NATO to approve any detailed plan on arrangements within Germany prior to discussions with the Germans. We look upon NATO’s [Page 471] role in this field as that of providing general guiding principles while leaving flexibility for Occupying Powers to develop the actual arrangements in consultation with the Germans. NATO wld, of course, be in a position of extending final approval to the arrangements worked out by the Occupying Powers.