740.5/12–1450: Telegram
The United States Deputy Representative on the North Atlantic Council (Spofford) to the Secretary of State
top secret
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London, December
14, 1950—9 p. m.
Depto 337. Personal for Secretary from Spofford. We have today telegraphed position papers on each item on Council agenda. I believe you can count on short meetings without serious controversy. Not being in chair will also make meetings somewhat easier for you. I nevertheless wish to give you in this message brief indication of controversies which might be reflected in discussion and status of each.
- 1.
- Primary one is basic difference between French attitude toward Germany and particularly German participation in defense and that of other countries. While French have accepted MilCom and deputies report unconditionally their whole approach continues different from rest of us. I do not think this will cause any overt difficulty at meeting [Page 573] but may cause difficulty in tripartite meeting December 191 and in future discussions with Germans looking to implementing these agreements.
- 2.
- Ultimate size of German units. While French military substantially agree with other military that there must eventually be German division there is as yet no meeting of minds between French Government and other governments on this point. They understand that we contemplate eventual German divisions and we recognize their desire to constitute “European” divisions. Both sides have agreed to postpone decision.
- 3.
- Disposition of German units during transitional period. French have insisted that satisfactory solution of this question, preferably by attaching them to existing Allied units, was condition to their acceptance of whole compromise. Alphand stated yesterday that he believed language in MilCom report (Depto 322)2 would be acceptable to his government.
- 4.
- European Army. I have cabled separately my belief that we can successfully bring together conflicting French, German and other European policies only by seeking constantly to influence them all to concentrate on basic common need for developing maximum strength and unity in shortest period in framework of North Atlantic community. I do not know whether any FonMins plan to discuss French proposal at Council meeting but if it does come up I would suggest you make short statement along this line and attempt to discourage discussion at this meeting.
- 5.
- Reorganization of standing group. Countries not on SG have shown strong feeling MilCom that they should be consulted more fully and at earlier stages by SG and thereby given greater opportunity to influence its decisions. This has been reflected in deputies by emphasis on need for SG to be subject to continuing political guidance from deputies. MilCom agreed this question should be studied further for report to next meeting of MilCom perhaps three months hence.
- 6.
- Canadian reorganization proposal.3 Canadians are being thoroughly cooperative in not pushing for action at this time and have agreed that Council should merely endorse proposal’s objectives and recommend further study.
[Spofford]