740.5/12–1650
The Secretary of Defense (Marshall) to the Secretary of State
Dear Mr. Secretary: The Department of defense suggests that the U.S. position with regard to the course of action at the NATO meetings to be held in Brussels, Belgium, on 18–19 December 1950, should be as follows:
- a.
- The Defense Committee should approve the Joint Report by Council Deputies and Military Committee on “The Contribution of Germany to the Defense of Western Europe”, and the Military Committee report on “The Creation of an Integrated European defense Force, The Establishment of a Supreme Headquarters in Europe, and the Reorganization of the NATO Military Structure” and forward them to the North Atlantic Council for their consideration.
- b.
- The Council should approve the Defense Committee action on the above-named documents.
- c.
- Following the action in paragraph b, if a resolution is adopted by the North Atlantic Council requesting the President of the United States to make available General Dwight D. Eisenhower as Supreme Allied Commander, Europe, the U.S. Representative to the North Atlantic Council should request a recess for the purpose of consulting with his Chief of State.
- d.
- Following this consultation the U.S. Representative would announce to the Council the results thereof.
- e.
- Thereupon, the Chairman of the Council would announce the unanimous approval of this appointment.
It is understood that no announcement will be made at these meetings of the assignment to the Supreme Allied Commander, Europe, of U.S. forces inasmuch as the President is expected to make a public announcement concerning this matter on Wednesday, 20 December 1950. I suggest that as United States Representative you inform the Council, on a confidential basis, of your Government’s intention to increase substantially U.S. forces in Europe in expectation that this effort will be met by a similar effort on the part of the other nations involved; and to state, further, that your Government considers that firm programs for the development of such forces on the part of the other signatories of the North Atlantic Treaty are a prerequisite for the fulfillment of additional force commitments by the United States.1
Faithfully yours,
- The contents of this letter were transmitted to Spofford at Brussels in telegram 840, December 16; not printed. (740.5/12–1650)↩