740.5/12–2050: Telegram
The Ambassador in Belgium (Murphy) to the Secretary of State
1011. Loridan this afternoon said that by and large communiqué resulting from meeting today of Brussels Pact FonMins was self explanatory (text in translation being telegraphed separately).1
He said that in general it had been agreed that military aspects of Western Union should now be subordinated and progressively merged with NATO. Pro forma, possibility was recognized of future meetings of Defense Ministers, Military Committee and Council of Western [Page 607] Union countries with admission of possibility that there might be some regional military problems which could still come within purview of these organisms. However as a matter of fact military aspects of Brussels Treaty were already completely subordinate to Atlantic Pact organizations. Fontainebleau apparatus would, if not entirely disappear, be molded with new Eisenhower General Staff.
In terms of strict confidence Loridan said that 5 powers had agreed on contributions to infrastructure. This would entail contributions by Belgium to France in over-all bookkeeping settlement. He did not however specify amount involved.
Sent Department 1011, repeated information Paris 220, London 180, The Hague 89, Luxembourg 30.
- For text of communiqué announcing the decision of the Consultative Council of Brussels Treaty Powers to merge the forces and agencies of its organization with those of NATO, see the New York Times, December 21, 1950, p. 1, column 6, and editorial on p. 28.↩