700.00(S)/4–650: Circular telegram
The Secretary of State to Certain Diplomatic Offices 1
Infotel. Secy has informed Senator Kefauver2 that main purpose of forthcoming FonMins meetings would be to work out with Brit, French and other parties to Atlantic Pact common approach to common problems and that what we hoped achieve in North Atlantic community was maximum political unity with permanent executive direction, in sense of agreement on common policies and coordinated action to carry them out. He said this would require something in nature of permanent council or executive director with permanent staff or both and that we would also undertake start toward closer econ collaboration in North Atlantic community. He indicated that it seemed better to develop concrete unity of purpose and action rather than to begin by consideration of constitutional changes. Referring to precarious UK financial position and other problems facing UK, he expressed opinion that any “constitutional” approach to greater unity would scare Brit but that much could be accomplished in achieving unity of purpose and action. Kefauver expressed agreement with what we had in mind but questioned whether piecemeal approach would be adequate or whether what we had in mind could be expressed in simple enough terms to American and other peoples adequately to capture their imagination. Secy agreed that Senator’s last point was important and expressed hope that we could do so. Kefauver referred to Congressional and public doubts as to where our foreign policy was really leading and thought these doubts might be even more serious next year unless clear and simple sense of direction were given to people. Secy said we were trying and would continue to try to make clear direction in which we were working.