740.5/7–2050: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Embassy in France 1
399. Embtel 385, July 20. While we fully recognize importance of tripartite consultation on most matters and wish to encourage it we wish definitely to play down tripartite activity in NAT framework. We have consistently made clear to the Fr our strong objection to any “political standing group” and we would certainly not wish any such body established in Wash since this wld completely undermine Deputies, whom we regard as essential spark plug agency of whole NATO machinery. Naturally US–UK–Fr Deputies will have much to discuss and will work closely together but this shld be on strictly informal basis. Less said about it the better.
Pls convey foregoing to Alphand.
- Repeated to London as 411.↩