Office of the Historian

396.1 LO/5–250: Telegram

The United States Delegation at the Tripartite Preparatory Meetings to the Secretary of State
secret
London, May 2, 1950—7 p. m.

Secto 84. From Jessup.

1. Tripartite committee on closer association1 agreed, with French reservation on last point, paper on strengthening NATO, text of which contained in immediately following telegram.2 Sub-committee had before it British and French proposals telegraphed Department as [Page 904] Secto 76, May 2,3 and Secto 57, April 30.4 Sub-committee used UK draft as basis for discussion. Changes at end of first sentence suggested by US in order to give further emphasis to need for strengthening NATO. Second sentence altered to make clear that governments, not representatives, appointed deputies.

2. New Paragraph to substitute for sentence on SYG in original UK draft was agreed by sub-committee in accordance our view that although desirable to make provision for strong “executive” it was not advisable to decide finally at this time whether key figure would be SYG, permanent chairman, or some alternative. Perkins5 referred to OEEC experience and fact that functions tended to evolve around personality chosen. He indicated that attitude of countries toward vesting real power in an individual depended in large measure on who individual was and that therefore preferable to leave precise definition open for time being. This was agreed but clear from discussion that UK and French both feel Council of 12 will be unwieldly and requires impetus from some focal point. British appear still to favor Executive Committee concept; French, strong SYG.

3. Changes made sub-paragraphs (a), (b) and (c) believed self-explanatory. In course of discussion subparagraph (a) French urged inclusion specific tasks as contained their paragraph 3(a), (i), (ii), (iii). Perkins supported by Jebb6 expressed view that French formulation would appear to Defense Committee, DFEC and MPSB to be direct encroachments and that substance of French proposals was included within general statement in sub-paragraph (a) as revised. French finally agreed to present formulation on understanding subcommittee would consider at next meeting possible directive which [Page 905] Council might issue to committees as part of action under item 2 of NATO agenda.

4. In course of discussion on sub-paragraph (d) French reverted to earlier idea of leaving Article 2 unimplemented and associating US and Canada with OEEC for consideration economic problems of mutual concern. UK reiterated their view that something should be done under Article 2 and that permanent body should study what action should be taken. It was agreed that at next meeting Thursday sub-committee would consider further the question of what should be recommended at this stage with respect to consideration of economic problems by US, Canada and Western European countries. Pending further consideration French will maintain reserve on sub-paragraph (d).

5. In addition to further consideration this question, sub-committee will, on Thursday, consider French draft of proposed directive from Council which will presumably be an elaboration of French paragraph iii, a, 3; draft declaration for use by Foreign Ministers or NATO; and French proposal on emigration.

Sent Department, repeated Paris 710.

[
Jessup
]
  1. The first meeting of Subcommittee A was held in the Foreign Office at 11:00 a. m.↩
  2. Secto 85, infra.↩
  3. Regarding the text of the British proposal, transmitted in Secto 76, not printed (396.1–LO/5–250), see Secto 85 and footnotes thereto, infra.↩

  4. Not printed; the text of the French proposal read as follows:

    • “1. The Atlantic Council will meet as often as it is necessary to work out and put into operation the program of action of the signatory governments. With this in view each government will designate a deputy of its Minister of Foreign Affairs, who will be an official of high rank who would take part at Council meetings whenever these are called.
    • “2. The Council thus strengthened will establish a permanent executive organ which will act under their control and according to their instructions.
    • “3. The first task of the Council and of the permanent executive win be as follows:
      • “(a) To co-ordinate military and financial policies with regard to defense with a view to arranging, with the shortest possible delay and under the best conditions:
        • “(i) The establishment of a program of modern armaments;
        • “(ii) The division of production between the industries of the participating countries; and
        • “(iii) The division of costs:
      • “(b) To co-ordinate political action with regard to common defense problems:
      • “(c) To co-ordinate the information of public opinion in matters concerning the application of the pact” (396.1 LO/4–3050)

    ↩
  5. George W. Perkins, Assistant Secretary of State for European Affairs.↩
  6. Sir Hubert Miles Gladwyn Jebb, British Deputy Under-Secretary of State (Political) for Foreign Affairs.↩